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Class _______ 

Book 



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COKRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



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THE SERVICE RECORD 

Le Journal des Exploits du Compagnie C 

303rd Field Signal battalion 
American Expeditionary Force 




PRODUCED BY 

Members of Company C— 303rd Field Signal Battalion 

HAROLD O. MOHR, EDITOR & PUBLISHER 
1919 



H570 
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LitU -i 



)CI.A559722 



COPYRIGHT. 1919 

BY 

HAROLD O. MOHR 



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SEMUR AND ITS TOWERS 



page six 



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Attention! 

WHEN we first set foot on French soil — at Calais — we were greeted by the query "Sou- 
venir? Souvenir?" from the little French urchins who hoped the Yanks had a few stray 
Lincoln coppers in their O D's. 

We laughed at them then as we cleared our pockets, and pleased the French kids. 

Now that it's finis la guerre, the tables are turned and we are crying "Souvenir!" We aren't 
after pennies, tho — it's something to cherish as a record of our service in Uncle Sam's Army. 
You see, Uncle Sam and his boys lived thru some wonderful experiences while we have been his 
boys — and we want to have a suitable remembrance of those exciting times. 

Of course we have our Prussian helmets, our Lugers, our iron crosses and what not, but they 
don't quite fill the bill. 

So we decided to print a book and cover the whole thing — from the time we entered the army 
to date. We acted on that decision. Here's the book. 

It's packed with slang expressions ; an occasional "damn" will be found ; there are numerous 
words and expressions, coined by the A. E. F. ; and there are plenty of curiously-spelled words. 
All because we wanted to give a real idea of what we had to do, how we did it, what we thought, 
how we felt, what and how we said it, and what others thought about it. 

We couldn't tell all the humorous — and sad — experiences we went thru while we were ac- 
quiring service stripes. So we've touched only the high spots — and will use the book as notes 
when we spin our yarns to the home folks around the old fireplace. 

So, please bear this in mind when you turn the pages. 

We have not shown the authorship of the articles because some of us furnished the ideas and 
others worked them out, while others did the illustrating — everybody helped. We're all content 
to say that the boys of Company C wrote, illustrated and published the entire book. 

If it pleases our Mothers, Dads, Brothers, Sisters and Wives — or Sweethearts — then we've 
gained our objective. 

Thank you. 

The Editor. 



page seven 



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page eight 



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Above the drone of industry, 
Above the mart's weird lay, 
Above that quaint tranquility 
That steeps each farmland day 
Haunting voices rise, and free 
Pent-up gems of memory. 

Men of iron, comrades true, 
Can this tribute measure you ? 
You, who nobly bore the strife, 
Suffered hardship, gave your life, 
Trod the walks of whispering death, 
Felt its chill, uncanny breath, 
Faltered not, but pushed ahead 
Through that hell fire, Prussian bred, 
Dared the evils of the air, 
Weary, but without despair, 
Carried on, with grit supreme, 
Communication's urgent scheme. 
You, whose glorious career 
Climaxed in a Mother's tear. 
A murmured rite, a wooden cross, 
A resting place 'neath Franco moss. 
To you the laurels, halos, fame — 
A star of honor by your name. 
And, in this hour of warm regret, 
We promise never to forget. 



page nine 



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This is "Old Jim," as we thought of him — Major James Kelly, 
S. B. C, as the army knows him — commander of the 303rd. 

He's a good scout — a real man — so we're happy to dedicate this 
little souvenir to him. 



page ten 






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THERE are four companies and a medical detachment 
in the 303rd Field Signal Battalion. Headquarters 
company is the administrative head of the battalion. 
The medical attachment works with the battalion when the 
battalion is together. A, or radio, company handles the 
wireless for the division. B, or wire, company operates the 
brigade and division exchanges, extending its communication 
system to connect with the corps exchange. 

C, or outpost, company boasts a personnel numbering 280 
men — one of the largest companies in the entire army. This 
company establishes, maintains and operates all telephone 
exchanges from and including the regimental exchanges, to 
the front line, also extending its communications to connect 
with the brigade exchanges, operated by B company. C 
company has charge, also, of all other lines of communica- 
tion within its area. C company is divided into four pla- 
toons of 65 men each — the remaining 20 forming the com- 
pany headquarters section, handling the company's adminis- 
trative matters. 

Upon completion of the instruction schedule, the time came 
for breaking up the company. Each of the four platoons 
was attached to one of the regiments of the division. The 
first platoon was assigned to the 309th regiment, the second 
to the 310th, the third to the 311th and the fourth to the 
312th. 

Each infantry regiment had a signal platoon, consisting of 76 
men, commanded by a second lieutenant. This platoon was 
a part of the regimental headquarters company. 

The lieutenant commanding the platoon from company C 
took charge of the infantry signal platoon in addition to his 
own and assumed the duties of Regimental Signal Officer. 



page eleven 



To carry out this work, he split up his personnel — 141 en- 
listed men, and the lieutenant from the signal platoon — send- 
ing a detachment of mixed signal corps and infantry signal 
men to each of the battalions within the regiment, and one 
detachment was retained at regimental headquarters. Usual- 
ly a telephone detail was the one to be sent to each of these 
four units and the cable laying section was also retained at 
regimental headquarters. 

The Regimental Signal Officer directed the liaison system 
from regimental headquarters, leaving a sergeant first class 
in charge of each of the four units of his command. The 
M. S. E. assisted the Regimental Signal Officer by keeping 
a general eye on the signal work within the regiment. The 
cook either worked with the infantry cooks or organized a 
separate mess for the men of his platoon. The extra pri- 
vates, as shown in the diagram, were used where they were 
needed most. 

C company's specialty is the telephone and it maintained a 
very complete system throughout its sphere of operation. 
But it also built up auxiliary communication schemes, for 
use in case Jerry should succeed in breaking up telephone 
communication. The auxiliary means were: The buzzer- 
phone, T. P. S., Lucas lamps, flags, aeroplane panels, fire- 
works and pigeons. The infantry also maintained a runner 
system which connected all units within the regiment. 

So, you will see, an extensive communication system was 
available at all times, and that ample precautions were taken 
to prevent the division from suffering an attack of nervous 
prostration — for the communications of a military unit cor- 
respond to the nerves of the human body. 



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V K Platoon 



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Company Organization 



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mid a, corporal switch id. 
np&rx.tnr 



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WHEN the United States entered the world's conflict 
in 1917, many young bloods were eager to partici- 
pate in the excitement or felt it their duty to follow 
the path of their illustrious forefathers by enlisting in Uncle 
Sam's new army for the duration of the war, then existing 
only on paper, but in plans in the greatest constructive minds 
in the country. The executive ability later displayed in 
carrying out those plans and the results obtained give all 
Americans who had the opportunity to make a comparison 
with the same work by Europeans, more enthusiastic for 
Yankee progressiveness and ability than ever before. 

After enlisting and being told all about the "mounted Signal 
Corps," the boys who had selected that organization made 
haste to bid home folks and friends a fond farewell ; to place 
their business affairs in such shape that they would not suf- 
fer in the event of the immediate departure of the newly 
made soldiers. Then followed a long summer of agonizing 
expectancy with no word from Washington; all the more 
agonizing because of its uncertainty and the fact that many 
had passed up valuable commercial opportunities on account 
of the daily expectation of receiving a penalty envelope from 
the War Department with its contents directing the recipient 
to report to some camp or other. 

The summer passed and the leaves began to show the signs 
of fall when, early in October, the following letter was re- 
ceived by some fifty-five or sixty men who had been looking 
for it so long : 

Headquarters Eastern Department 

Office of the Signal Officer 

Army Building, 39 Whitehall Street 

New York City 



John Doe, 

1936 Swatava Street, 
Harrisburg, Pa. 

By direction of the President the Signal Enlisted Reserve 
is to be mobilized under existing law. 

You will sign enclosed transportation request, present it to 
local railroad agent and secure ticket. 

Your meals en route will be furnished by yourself and you 
will be reimbursed at rate of 50 cents per meal ($1.50 per 
day). 

Report to Commanding Officer, Camp Dix, Wrightstown, 
N. J., on Oct. 11, 1917. 

By command of Brig. Gen. Hoyle: 

W. A. Simpson, Adj. Gen., 
Adjutant. 

The majority of these notices specified October 11th as the 
date to report, but a few were October 8th. On October 
11th a motley procession wended its way from the new sta- 
tion through the mud of erstwhile cornfields, (not so very 
erstwhile at that), to the brand new barracks near the brand 
new post office where the procession stopped and the first 
men to be assigned to Company C, 303rd Field Signal Bat- 
talion, were led into the barracks assigned to that unit. 

First Lieutenant Morton F. Sultzer was then in command of 
Company C and it was by his efforts that Company C learned 
its left foot from its right when both feet seemed to be left ; 
went through the first lessons in semaphore, wig-wag and 
buzzer — three accomplishments that we later discovered to 
be almost useless in modern warfare. 



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The first day was spent in getting beds, bed sacks, blankets 
and comforts, filling the bed sacks with straw and setting up 
and cleaning up the barracks and grounds. 

The beds were folding iron cots with springs. They seemed 
to us to be a very poor excuse for beds after just coming 
from civil life, but oh ! what a luxury they would have been 
in France where we had mud, stone, boards or manure for 
beds — the only springs being the wet weather springs that 
make northern France a beautiful expanse of mud. 

The difficulties of the mess-kit were among the first problems 
to engage our attention. Being extremely hungry and con- 
fronted with a savory meal and given a cup, two pans, a 
knife, fork and spoon to get a share of that same meal, it be- 
hooved the rookies to learn quickly how to handle all these 
tools with Nature's allotment of two hands when it seemed 
that a professional hashslinger would have trouble managing 
it with an extra hand or two. It did not take long to learn 
the art and become very adept in mess-kit juggling. It is 
doubtful if there is a man in the outfit now who cannot han- 
dle two mess-kits at once and do it gracefully. 

The following two weeks were spent in getting introduction 
to more brand new problems than were ever put up to any 
of the men in such a short time before or since. Squads 
East, semaphore, wig-wag, buzzer, reveille, retreat, bugle 
calls, learning the difference between the left foot and the 
right, saluting shave-tails, K. P., guard, inspection and 
fatigue kept us all so busy that it seemed to us that there 
never would be any time for ourselves. 

Fatigue — how much work of all description that word does 
cover ! Picking up matches and cigarette butts, digging 
ditches and building roads, sheds and board walks and, in 
fact, any kind of work at all goes by the name of fatigue. 
While we are on the subject it is in order to mention one of 
our men who won fame on two continents as an indefati- 
gable fatigue fiend. Theodore Davis was one of C Com- 
pany's first arrivals and soon displayed his ability to tackle 
any proposition at all from stenciling your number on a 
blanket to building a stable or moving a wood pile. 

A poor, harmless wood pile would be resting in peace in 



some obscure spot where it hoped to spend the balance of its 
days — but no such luck. The eagle eye of Ted Davis would 
light on Mr. Woodpile and "Aha ! I knew there was some- 
thing we could do to keep the boys busy !" would exclaim 
our redoubtable Ted and out must come all hands regardless 
of their half holiday occupations of writing letters home or 
enjoying a nap on a bunk. Then the company would be en- 
gaged in moving said wood pile to some other spot a few feet 
away. This process was kept up until a woodpile became 
nervous, fidgety and ill at ease whenever Davis came into its 
neighborhood. One wood pile we had became so used to be- 
ing moved that it would get ready to change its location 
every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon. These days are 
half holidays. It was not long before Davis was known in 
both America and Europe by the appropriate name of 
Fatigue Davis. The following story comes from a reliable 
source and is readily believed by all who know Davis. 

When the 312th Infantry entered Grand Pre the Huns were 
supposed to have been driven out by the 77th whom the 78th 
relieved. As a matter of fact the majority of the city was 
strongly held by the Germans. Jimmy O'Kane walked up to 
these Germans: "Hello, Jerry," he said. "Hello, Yank," 
they replied. "Have a smoke ?" offered Jim as he rolled his 
own. "Sure, we will," was the quick response, "but what are 
you doing in our town?" "Why the 77th said they took it 
away from you yesterday," was our brave corporal's reply. 
"It is just like the 77th to say something like that," said a 
German who formerly had a cabbage farm near Yap Hank, 
New York, "but you will have to get out of Grand Pre." 
Upon being asked what outfit he belonged to and who was 
in charge Jimmy told them that he was with the 303rd Sig- 
nals and that Fatigue Davis was in charge. This threw the 
Jerries into a panic and they exclaimed: "Let's get out of 
here before he sees us or he'll put us to work !" They did, 
and that is the way Davis and O'Kane captured Grand Pre. 

When the first arrivals of C Company came to Dix there 
were few barracks, no roads and much mud. This condi- 
tion of affairs was not allowed to exist very long for by the 
time we had learned to do squads right about without for- 
getting which way the column was moving, Camp Dix corn- 



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menced to show a wonderful array of barracks with streets 
and sewers laid out in a most efficient manner. Good mac- 
adam roads and well-made ditches did much to make Jersey's 
wonderful mud a place tenantable for the embryo army that 
was then pouring in wearing the ribbon of Local Draft 
Board Number Whatsis. 

After the third week in Dix there was one thing looked for- 
ward to more than anything else. Week-end passes were is- 
sued so that from Saturday noon to Monday morning those 
living near Dix could spend the week-end at home. Nearly 
everyone went every week until the arrival of Major James 
Kelly cut the number of passes down so that a man got a 
pass not oftener than once a month. "Ye'll lear-r-n ye're in 
the ar-r-my," said that veteran of six campaigns — and learn 
we did. 

Major Kelly took charge of the 303rd about our sixth week 
in Dix. From that date we began to be more military and 
relinquished more of our privileges — we learned that the 
army was not a picnic. Those were trying days for us just 
come from civil life and put on a strict military basis, but, 
thanks to Old Jim, we passed the crisis quickly and fell into 
the ways of the army. 

During November and December about twenty more men 
came to Company C from the Depot Brigade. This made 
the strength of the company about eighty men. 

The close of the third month found us all fed up on drill 
and training and full of a desire to go anywhere just to get 
away from the hum-drum of Camp Dix. Some of the boys 
tried out the precarious A. W. O. L. stunt with the result 
that pay day held small meaning for them for several months 
afterwards. 

We learned all the tricks of the trade such as going to 
reveille with an overcoat covering omissions of such trouble- 
some articles of apparel as shirts and blouses ; skipping over 
to Mount Holly, sans pass, and back without getting caught 
and riding the sick book. 

Riding the sick book is quite an art. There is to be a ma- 
noeuver or a hike that you dislike to take part in, therefore, 
on the morning that you are to start on the hated work you 



become suddenly ill and report to the medico. If you are a 
good actor you get marked "quarters," which means that 
you stay in the barracks all day with nothing to do, but if 
you are a bum actor you may earn a dose of castor oil for 
your pains. Of course, in the latter case, you will be marked 
"duty" and must work, but what do you care, for the bunch 
has already left and you will stay behind and think as little 
of castor oil as possible. Great game. 

During the middle of the Winter the camp was quarantined 
on account of an epidemic of measles. The Y. M. C. A.'s 
were closed, no one was permitted to leave the camp area 
and even the old pastime of going to Wrightstown to be bur- 
glarized was tabooed. 

Time passed slowly and for a short time at the beginning of 
the quarantine, life was almost miserable. An order had 
been issued that windows were to be kept open day and 
night. The weather was near zero and it is not hard to im- 
agine what the inside of the barracks was like. This only 
lasted a short time until the order was changed to read "suffi- 
cient ventilation" and we were enabled to heat up the bar- 
racks once more. 

The last day of the quarantine was duly celebrated with a 
ceremonial burial of Old Man Quarantine in which we used 
Paddy Hasson for the corpse. 

A grand exodus from camp then set in; Wrightstown be- 
ing the mecca for the majority of the camp and that little 
place less than half a dozen blocks in size, was slightly over- 
crowded with fifteen to twenty thousand men trying to get 
into the stores and various places of amusement at the same 
time. 

The shopkeepers in Wrightstown hailed this liberation with 
glee. Had not all these men more or less money to spend 
and was not Wrightstown the only place to spend it ? "Oy ! 
Oy ! Raise der prices kvick, Ikey." 

They were some prices. Twenty-five cents for a whisk 
broom or a soap box that cost a nickel or a dime at home and 
six to ten cents for a cake of five cent soap made you desire 
muchly to get some of those highway robbers by the neck, 
lead them to a mustering officer and thence to a rookie squad 



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where they would be taught the gentle art of shoveling mud 
for Uncle Sam at one dollar per day less insurance, liberty 
bond and allotment money. After a month of this they 
should be marched to Wrightstown with a month's pay in 
their pockets and discover to their disappointment how little 
those burglars would give them for their month's pay. 

Wrightstown was a quiet old country village until Camp Dix 
was built when a flock of stores of all descriptions com- 
menced to spring up overnight. These stores at once com- 
menced to do a land office business at overgrown prices and 
in a short time a regular little boom was in existence. A 
queer coincidence was the burning of these stores and the 
signing of the armistice within a few days of each other. 

One place in Wrightstown that was a contrast to all the rest 
of the town was the Haversack. The Haversack was a sol- 
diers' club conducted by Miss Durgin and some other ladies 
from East Orange who seemed never to tire of serving ice 
cream, cake, pie and coffee to a never ending stream of men 
from camp. There were plenty of musical instruments on 
hand and several rooms were fitted up as reading rooms. 
The Haversack did much to make life in Camp Dix endur- 
able. 

In March one hundred and fifty men from Fort Leaven- 
worth, Kansas, came to Company C and with some transfers 
from other organizations brought the strength of our com- 
pany to above two hundred and ninety men. The company 
was at full strength with two hundred and eighty men so, 
with our present strength, we were assured of a complete 
company to go overseas. 

March and April dragged along with the usual hum-drum of 
buzzer practice, squads east and all the rest of the monoto- 
nous programme and May was well on its way when we 
were issued full overseas equipment, quarantined in the bat- 
talion area and even ordered not to talk about it in our let- 
ters home. But after a few days the quarantine was lifted 
and the battalion again allowed to visit Wrightstown where 
getting nothing for something was the favorite pastime. 

Great was our disappointment and enlightenment in the ways 
of the army when the order was given postponing the de- 



parture of the 78th Division. This disappointment was 
often referred to later while the erstwhile disappointed ones 
were sleeping and working in mud and eating half a can of 
bully beef and a box of hardtack for the big meal of the day. 
"I wanted to get to Sunny France when I was in Camp Dix," 
said one fellow, "but if I could get back there now you would 
never hear a peep from me." This seemed to be the general 
opinion and may be criticised as unpatriotic, but had the critic 
been at St. Mihiel and later in the Argonnes he would have 
witnessed such fine work by these same grumblers that he 
would consider the grumbling as of no importance. 

This is too far advanced for our story for we are not yet out 
of Jersey's sand hills. As was said before, we had received 
a little enlightenment in the ways of the army. This was 
only too true, but all that we learned in these seven months 
was only a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to our 
later education. Our outfit had been prepared to move and 
had the movement postponed and settled for a long stay in 
congenial surroundings only to be marched out the following 
morning so many times and had been so sadly disillusioned 
on many reports of the future movements of our division 
that we have become so skeptical that we will not believe 
that it is going to rain until the drops begin to fall — not even 
if the leaves turn the white side, the sky gets black and the 
chickens hunt cover. We refuse to believe in signs. 

A few days after the quarantine had been lifted it was 
clamped on again and this time for good. Very early in the 
morning of May 26th, 1918, we boarded a train which 
hauled us to Jersey City, a ferry carried us to Brooklyn and 
unloaded us at the pier we embarked from. An hour or so 
later we were on the lower deck of H. M. S. Toloa , a former 
fruiter owned by the United Fruit Company but then mas- 
querading as a king's transport. At six o'clock the follow- 
ing morning the Toloa slipped past the Statue of Liberty in 
a heavy fog and waited outside of the harbor for the rest of 
the convoy and, on its arrival, started her zig-zag course 
across the Atlantic. 

After a few days out, new ships were noticed in our fleet. 
Members of the crew volunteered the information that ships 
sailing from Halifax were to join us in that neighborhood 



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v 



and that we had been killing time there for several hours 
while awaiting their arrival. 

With the exception of a torpedo, that was fired at us one 
night without harm to anyone, the voyage proved uneventful 
but a few incidents mentioned here may prove interesting 
and give some idea of life on a troop transport. 

The Toloa was manned by a British crew and had made sev- 
eral trips from the U. S. to England with American soldiers, 
the same crew in the cooks galley having been with the ship 
continuously. Naturally, these old timers knew the ways of 
our boys and were much alive to the fact that the food fur- 
nished on shipboard was far inferior to the worst we had 
ever received in training camp, while at times, nothing but an 
old salt with a shark's stomach could make a meal of the 
tripe and ancient fish that was served. The Tommies and 
Scotchmen, ever keen to gather a little easy money, would 
sell sandwiches and even meals of fowl meant for the ship's 
captain. All of this sounds fine until it is discovered that the 
fellows paid fifty cents for a sandwich or as high as five dol- 
lars for some chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy and 
that all the money went to the cook or steward, who went to 
no expense whatever — then they appear to have been bur- 
glars. 

Of course our lads did not submit to this treatment with- 
out some sort of retaliation which led to much worry on 
the part of the cooks and stewards. One of the favorites 
was to buy something from one of the brigands thereby 
learning where he kept his stock of contraband eats. After 
that it remained only to seize the first opportunity to make 
away with his whole stock in trade. At one time a cook 
who had previously sold a pint of hot tea, price 30 cents, 
had three roasted chickens laid away, for which he ex- 
pected to collect a rich reward. He was doomed to dis- 
appointment for his victim returned while the cook was 
absent, and when the cook returned the chickens were ab- 
sent. 

On the Toloa was the 309th Machine Gun Battalion and 
the 303rd Field Signal Battalion with one thousand and 
five hundred men respectively. These fifteen hundred men 
maintained a guard of sixteen posts. On the last night of 



the trip the 303rd was on guard, when, at about 1 A. M. 
some of the Tommies seemed to display a rather con- 
strained quietness. Being a curious lad the sergeant of 
the guard inquired as to the cause, whereupon he learned 
that the Toloa was then passing through the Rathlyns, and 
that this was one of Von Tirpitz' favorite hunting grounds. 

The quietness then became mutual. Another member of 
the guard, upon learning the situation, made his way to the 
hammocks of some very nervous individuals, wakened them 
and explained our location with some enlargements of his 
own concerning the activities of the "subs" at that par- 
ticular place. Quite comforting! 

Shortly after this it became light enough to distinguish the 
coast of Scotland which, enhanced by an early sunrise, 
made as nice a bit of scenery as we have seen on this 
side. After a year away it is a safe bet that a choice be- 
tween a New Jersey sandhill and the coast of Scotland if 
given to one of our outfit, the sand hill would win in a 
walk. 

The Toloa ran into Liverpool that evening, and the troops 
unloaded the following morning when we bade good-bye 
and loaded into the hearses used by Europeans for railroad 
coaches. 

The English furnished coaches for our ride from Liver- 
pool to Dover, which consumed over fourteen hours. Eng- 
lish coaches are very uncomfortable, but since that time 
our few train rides have been in "Cheveaux Eights," that 
make even the cramped comfort of a third class European 
coach seem like a Pullman. 

The toy train that we were riding on finally pulled into 
Dover, where we unloaded. The country through which 
we had just traveled was very pretty, and around Dover 
it was no less so, but we discovered in the twenty-minute 
walk that followed our arrival that, although the land might 
be pretty, it was composed of chalk and was most uncom- 
fortable when it settled in dust form on us. 
We walked to the top of one of the cliffs where we moved 
into an old hotel building. All of the windows were shaded 
in order to keep any light from guiding one of Jerry's 



page seventeen 



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bombs toward the encampment. This little sign told us 
that we were at last within the sphere of Heinie's activi- 
ties. 

During our stay at Dover, about three days, we saw the 
old Dover Castle and the city of Dover with its crooked 
streets and got ourselves copiously covered with chalk dust. 
From Dover we sailed to Calais accompanied by sub chas- 
ers and aeroplanes. The short journey was accomplished 
with no mishaps, much singing and bright prospects of air- 
ing ourselves in the big British rest camp, that we had heard 
so much about, at Calais. 

Oh, what a disillusionment awaited us at Calais! Rest 
Camp Number Six was reached after a two-mile hike 
through six dusty inches of chalk and sand, the journey 
ending in as fine a sand pile as any seacoast could fur- 
nish. The tents were of the circular type, designed to 
shelter about eight men. Each tent was pitched over a 
hole in the ground with sand bag walls and board floors. 
This was for protection from shrapnel during air raids. 

Into each of these tents sixteen men were crowded. Sleep- 
ing was possible only during the short interval that one's 
feet remained on top of the pile of feet in the center. All 
feet were placed in the center, which naturally made a 
pile of feet. The feet on the bottom of the pile, having 
thirty feet on top of them, would get tired and be with- 
drawn by the owner and placed on top. This process 
would be kept up all night, and is one of the reasons no 
tears were shed when we left Calais. 

Calais, from a military standpoint, was a very important 
point ; consequently, frequent raids were made by bomb- 
ers. One of the nights we spent there was marked by one 
of these raids. Beaucoup hardware was scattered but, so 
far as we could discover, no one was injured. 

Separated from our tents by a barbed wire fence were the 
barracks of several hundred Chinese laborers. The air- 
raid got these Chinks very much excited, and long after 
it was over they kept up a jabbering discussion. We could 
not tell what they said, but they seemed to cover the sub- 
ject thoroughly. 



In Calais we were given another test in real gas which we 
all passed without trouble — thanks to the thoroughness of 
our training at Camp Dix. Several instructors were fur-, 
nished by the British, one of them being a big, kilted 
Scotchman with a rich voice and a wonderful brogue. One 
of the things he told us before the gas was put over was 
that he had casualties during instruction every day. It is 
easy to guess that this accelerated the movement when the 
signal was given to don masks while a yellow fog moved 
across the ground in our direction. 

This gas drill recalls to memory a fellow named Brenna — 
appropriately nicknamed "Snooze," on account of his never 
getting up for reveille, or in fact any formation he did 
not wish to attend regardless of the punishment he earned. 
He had a fine voice and loved to use it. 

On the day we were to have the final gas test Brenna was 
reported absent from the formation. "Where is Private 
Brenna?" asked the lieutenant. "I don't know, sir," replied 
the top sergeant. Just then, through the window of the 
Y. M. C. A. about fifty feet away came "That's a Baby's 
Prayer at Twilight" in "Snooze's" well known tones. The 
company was at attention but everybody grinned just the 
same. Nobody said a word but "That's a Baby's Prayer 
at Twilight" was the popular song on the hike that after- 
noon. 

All accommodations pertaining to a training camp were 
very poor at Calais, and imagine what we, who were newly 
uprooted from one of the best equipped camps in America, 
thought of it. 

Imagine our comedown from spring cots with mattresses 
in a big, cheery barracks to a blanket on a board floor in 
a tent one-half or one-third large enough with plenty of 
sand to fill the hair, ears, nose and mouth of the sleeper; 
from the meals furnished in a land of plenty in a model 
mess hall by a much-inspected sanitary kitchen to the noto- 
riously poor cooking and dark, dreary mess hall at Calais ; 
from the rugged shower baths at Camp Dix (they would 
be luxuries in northern France), to a plunge in three feet 
of salt water as cold as good beer. Rest Camp Number 



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Six was pas bon. The only reason we could see for call- 
ing it "Rest" Camp was that a man certainly needed a 
rest after he had been there a few days. 

One day, while we were at Calais, some of us hopefully 
went down to the so-called lake for a bath. After a nice 
two-mile plod through the sand that could be properly 
navigated by a camel (none of our bunch have any of 
that animal's characteristics), we prepared for a nice dive 
into the "lake." After wading across and back and forth, 
searching in vain for a place at least waist deep, we re- 
paired to the bank for soap in order to have a good scrub, 
only to discover at that late moment that the water was 
extremely salty, and the soap we had was pas bon. 

While we were bathing we were struck by the extreme 
modesty of the French women and girls who were there 
peddling oranges (three for a franc). We were all dressed 
in Nature's bathing suit, but that did not bother those fe- 
males a bit, for they came right up to us and criticised dif- 
ferent points of the physique of several individuals. 

After dressing we went back to camp accompanied by the 
sticky feeling that follows a plunge in very salty water. 
Our next bath was over ten days later, and, although the 
water was colder than a mountain trout stream, we had 
learned that only a poor soldier kicks as long as the water 
will wash off dirt. 

At Calais the barracks bags that we had come to believe 
absolutely necessary, and which we had shipped over 
stuffed to the last inch, were filled with all personal stuff 
we could not carry and put in storage. We were told that 
when we came out of the lines that the bags would be 
returned to us, but we have been out of the lines about 
six months and have seen nothing of them yet. Au revoir, 
barrack bags. 

Some of the equipment we had carried over was turned in 
to the Q. M. C. to be re-issued. The following is an ap- 
proximate list of the equipment carried over by each man: 

1 Overcoat 

2 Uniforms 

3 O. D. shirts 



3 Suits winter underwear 
3 Suits summer underwear 
6 Pairs socks 

3 Pairs shoes 

4 Pair shoelaces 
3 Pair gloves 

3 Blankets 
1 Shelterhalf 
1 Tent pole 

5 Tent pins 

1 Campaign hat 

1 Winter cap 

1 Slicker 

1 Belt 

1 Canteen 

1 Mess kit 

1 Condiment can 

1 Bacon can 

1 Helmet 

1 Haversack and pack carrier 

In addition to these were toilet articles and all personal 
stuff, such as sweater, handkerchiefs, etc., and also several 
pounds of rations. Some pack. 

At Calais we were ordered to turn in a part of the fore- 
going, with the result that a pack became one-third of its 
original weight. The big idea seems to have been to get 
transportation from America for the extra clothing to be 
used later in the field, said transportation being us. Our 
men, today, would almost become mutineers should they 
be ordered to carry such a pack as the one they carried 
from Dix to Calais. 

The stay at Calais was mercifully short. A few days after 
landing we were marched about three miles to the railroad 
and introduced to the famous Cheveaux Eights. 
On the side of a French box car is this inscription: 
"Hommes, 40; Cheveaux, 8," meaning that forty men or 
eight horses are to be loaded on that car. 

After loading on these cattle cars, with so many men to 
each car that it was a difficult matter for all to sit down 



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at the same time, we were treated to a three-day ride with- 
out a sign of hot coffee and sandwiches, so much adver- 
tised during Y. M. C. A. money-raising campaigns. On 
the third day we landed on a siding, and as usual in French 
railroading we staid awhile. It was here that the Red 
Cross gave us some coffee which reminded us that there 
was still some joy in life. By the time we had grown 
roots on this siding the frog train crew evidently had fin- 
ished all their lunches and conversations, for they pulled 
the train out on the main line and ran the other half mile 
to Lumbres, in the province of Pas-de-Calais. 

From Lumbres we carried the packs that we had not yet 
learned to lighten through the thirst producing chalky dust 
of that country to the little village of Lart. At Lart we 
camped on a nice green field with plenty of room in the 
tents for the men to sleep comfortably. 

This was about 4 P. M., and at about 4:05 P. M. we dis- 
covered, about three hundred yards from camp, a beau- 
tiful stream of (ice cold) water. An old mill pond, a 
spring board, a cake of soap and a towel soon put the pep 
back into our road-weary bunch. 

After a few days in the tents we moved into billets, which 
are much nicer to live in than tents — especially in rainy 
weather. 

Training was started again as soon as we got settled in our 
new home. Buzzers, Lucas lamps, flags and telephones 
with field maneouvers and endurance building hikes were 
handed to us until we thought that the war would be over 
before we were pronounced well enough trained for the 
lines. 

Up to this time our company had been organized in the 
usual infantry form of four platoons of eight squads each 
with eight men to each squad. We were now to be re- 
organized according to regulations for the Signal Corps. 
The reorganization was effected according to S. C. D. R., 
and our training carried on. After the reorganization our 
training was concentrated on installing and operating tele- 
phone systems under the supervision of British instructors. 
It is amusing to recall some of the good advice given us 



by these Tommies. All of their plans were for a sort of 
stationary warfare in elaborate trenches and dugouts which 
they occupied for months at a time. Accordingly, they 
painstakingly explained how to make ourselves at home 
and what preparations to make for an extended stay in 
the trenches when we got there. Another point they cov- 
ered well was how to make a good retreat; getting all the 
equipment or destroying it — not a word about advance. 

All this advice was a great help to us — we don't think — 
since the longest we usually occupied one dug-out was 
about two weeks, were never in the trenches as the Tom- 
mies knew them and were never in a retreat. Nearly the 
whole of our work was during advancing or raids, of which 
the Tommies had told us nothing. 

Late in June we said good-bye to Lart, and marched two 
miles to Nielles, a larger village in the same province, where 
we moved into billets with the same British instructors. 
Nielles is a small village boasting a butcher shop, six esta- 
minets and a few stores that had little the American soldat 
cared to buy. Of these the butcher shop and the esta- 
minets did the most business. 

Eggs, milk, potatoes and lettuce were quite plentiful, and 
when added to a few pork chops made to us what seemed 
a regular banquet. 

Beefsteak was never popular with us after the discovery 
that in French butcher shops the beefsteak was mostly 
cut from the carcass of a cheveaux. Horsesteak is good 
if one does not know he has eaten horse. 

In northern France the buildings are invariably placed in 
the same positions. For instance, the house is built on one 
side of a square with the stables, pigpen, granary, etc., on 
the other three sides ; all facing the center. The center, or 
courtyard, is used for manure pile, garbage dump, front 
yard, chicken and pig feeding place and front porch. It 
is usually paved with cobblestones. 

In the sheds of some of these establishments we made our 
homes at Nielles, which were O. K. as soon as we became 
accustomed to the smell. 



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Nielles was our home for several weeks, during which 
time we learned that the French are usually ready to help 
Americans part with their francs. For instance, wine that 
the French soldiers bought cost them one franc, while the 
price was five for American soldiers. With the excep- 
tion of the Australians, the Americans were the most high- 
ly paid soldiers in France, so you can scarcely blame the 
shopkeepers (who are mostly of the ignorant class) if they 
saw us coming. 

Our last gas test was taken while we were at Nielles. We 
filed to some trenches where we donned our masks. The 
gas was put over and we took our masks off as soon as it 
cleared away. Next, we listened to a long-winded lecture 
during which one of our men went to sleep beside a re- 
cently discharged gas cylinder and became very sick. How- 
ever, it was not serious. 

In all these lectures one point was made very strong: All 
masks must be on within six seconds after the alarm is 
sounded. If a man fails to get his mask on within that 
time he will be gassed. After we had been in the lines 
awhile the procedure was something like this: 
"There's a gas alarm, Bill." 
"Can you smell any gas?" inquires Bill. 
"No." 

"Let's go to sleep." 
"Same here." 

We were getting well fed up on training, which is in- 
evitable after a stay of a month or two in one place with 
only the dull drag of training for a time killer. It did not 
bother us a bit when, a few days after the Fourth of July 
had been duly celebrated in Nielles, we hiked to a little 
railroad station called Affringues, about three miles away, 
where we started on our second journey in Cheveaux 
Eights. 

This was with the usual jolty, slow movement, and with 
not enough room to stretch and wound up the next day 
about seven miles from St. Pol. 

After unloading and the usual map consultation being com- 
pleted, we started on an eight-mile hike that was the hard- 



est one we had yet had. Due to an overdose of Scotch 
consumed by our guide we took a route that led two miles 
further than necessary, and with Scotch setting the pace 
for us loaded with our heavy packs we stumbled into Her- 
lin-le-Sec about midnight with the majority of the men 
strung out along the road for a mile or so in the rear. 

The only water was about five hundred yards from our 
camp site. All the water had been used up hours before 
and, naturally, a drink of water was the principal thought 
of every man there. The water was in a deep well with 
one bucket to draw it up, causing the process to be very 
slow. It was over two hours before the line at the well was 
finished. 

As soon as our fellows had slept off the effect of the previ- 
ous two-days' travel they began to wander around on ex- 
ploring expeditions, the result of which showed that we 
were within a kilometer of the little village of Herlin-le- 
Sec which contained two estaminets and not another at- 
traction. 

Along the roads around the village were about a hundred 
lorries belonging to the British and used in transporting 
troops to and from the Arras front, which was a few hours 
ride from there. With those trucks were some work shops 
better equipped than the army usually carries. The me- 
chanics in these shops did not seem to be overworked, for 
they picked up quite a few extra francs making cigarette 
cases, rings and other souvenirs out of the brass of French 
75's ; all of which found ready sale among the Americans. 
About three kilos north lay St. Pol, and although not a 
very important city, it was a railroad center that drew quite 
a few air raids from Jerry. After Jerry learned where 
our camp was he dropped an occasional barracks bag in 
our direction but never succeeded in doing us any dam- 
age, although he managed to make a direct hit on the rail- 
road while we were there. 

It was the day following Jerry's first visit that our nice 
little acre of tents that had been pitched so correctly on 
a pretty piece of sod was moved to the nearby shelter of 
three rows of elms and acting on the advice of the Brit- 



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ish no attempt was made to line them up, for irregularity- 
makes a better camouflage then straight rows of tents. 
The same British instructors that we had at Lart and 
Nielles came to Herlin with us and we went through the 
same old stuff as before. The old monotony of continuous 
training soon made itself obnoxious, and with August well 
on its way we had commenced to have visions of a winter 
in the trenches with the British — not to our liking. 
With these thoughts in mind we woke up one beautiful 
morning to find the third and fourth platoons ordered to 
join the 311th and 312th Infantry Regiments. This looked 
like business, and looked even more so a few days later 
when the balance of the 303rd was loaded on Cheveaux 
Eights in the usual overcrowded manner and hauled by 
many different engines and crews to Bourbonne-les-Bains, 
in the Haute Marne province, whither the 78th Division 
had been ordered. 

On the way to Bourbonne we passed through Chateau- 
Thierry where we saw our first fresh battlefield. The train 
stopped several times while crossing the newly captured 
territory, giving us an opportunity to investigate the Ger- 
man equipment that was lying everywhere. Americans are 
quite industrious when souvenirs are to be found, as the 
trainload of helmets and almost everything German the 
men could carry that was hauled away gave proof. How- 
ever, the subsequent twelve-mile hike on a hot macadam 
road was trail marked with most of those souvenirs. They 
are a nuisance on a long hike. 

The train ran through the edge of Paris where we caught 
fleeting glimpses of wide streets — that is all the most of 
us have ever seen of that city. 

The end of the train ride was La Ferete, twelve miles from 
Bourbonne, and our work for the next four hours con- 
sisted of hiking the intervening twelve miles. Realization 
that we were in sunny France was keen that afternoon 
while the sun was beating down on that twelve-mile 
macadam road and drinking water on par value with gold. 
But when we did arrive there were good billets and a hot 
supper with beaucoup hot coffee; none of which takes the 
joy out of life. 



The day after our arrival another joyful surprise awaited 
us in the form of a real hot bath in a real French bath 
house. For half a franc we enjoyed a hot tub bath that 
tourists in antebellum days paid five francs for. 

Bourbonne, too, proved to be a lively little city in which 
articles such as sugar, chocolate or even a good meal could 
be purchased at reasonable prices; the same not being true 
of the balance of France as we had known it. The people 
in Bourbonne seemed to be more hospitable than in the 
section we had just left, although the shopkeepers did not 
hesitate to slide the prices up a little if one showed too 
much money. 

Another elevation of spirits was caused when we discov- 
ered that we were now in a strictly American area and 
destined to be sent to an American sector. 

The attitude of the lower classes of Bourbonnese towards 
the negroes is amusing. The 92nd Division (black), was 
quartered in Bourbonne up to the time of our arrival. As 
told to us by some English-speaking French these fellows 
had given the people of Bourbonne an excellent line of talk 
about themselves being the real Americans while all the 
white soldiers were merely the lower classes. This story 
was steadfastly believed by some of the more ignorant 
French and, needless to say, caused several rough houses, 
as for instance, when a darkey walked into a saloon filled 
with white men and the madame who ran the place asked 
one of them to give the nigger his seat. The men at the 
table were from West Virginia. The 92nd had been moved 
from Bourbonne before our arrival and only a few of their 
men were there, so nothing serious happened. 

Bourbonne, however, was far too good to last; our good 
time there being brought to a quick end by an order for the 
first and second platoons of our company to report to the 
309th and 310th Infantry Regiments. All of our company 
was now assigned to the outfits with which it worked in the 
field and it looked like real business for us at last. 

Our company was separated during the fighting and was 
not assembled again until long after the armistice was 
signed. 



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With the outfits to which assigned here they went through 
the war, gaining the praise of not only the battalion and reg- 
imental commanders, but all the higher officers. The com- 
pany was highly commended, as were the separate platoons 
and the men individually ; to have been through the war 
with Company C, 303rd Field Signal Battalion is a source 
of pride for us and will be the basis of many "aprez la 
guerre" tales when we attain a long-wished-for discharge. 

The armistice has been signed and "when do we go home," 
had been the momentous question. On December 13th, 
Company C was assembled at Chevigny where the 303rd 
Field Signal Battalion headquarters were. This gave rise 
to the rumor that preparations were being made to go 
home, but this air-castle was wrecked the following day 
when it was learned that the company had been assembled 
for one day only for the purpose of a corps review. The 
reunion was glorious. Old friends who had not seen each 
other since the company was divided, met again. Stories of 
the front were told and retold, and accounts of the missing 
were given. There were many faces missing and many 
new ones in the ranks of the company for one hundred 
and fifty-five had made the supreme sacrifice or been 
evacuated to hospitals, and many new men sent to fill their 
places. Most missed of all was our captain, Luther Hagar. 
The company had never an officer so popular with his men 
as Captain Hagar had been, and his death while we were 
in action at the St. Mihiel sector was mourned as a great 
loss. 

Taps had no meaning the night the company assembled, 
the babble of conversation continued away into the 
morning. The day following the review, the platoons were 
sent to their respective regiments, where they remained 
until January 26th or 27th. On January 26th the second 
platoon moved from its station at Vic de Chassenay to 
Menetoy, about one kilometer away and three kilometers 
from Semur in the province of Cote d'Or. The follow- 
ing day the first, third and fourth platoons moved from 
their locations, Epoisses, Flavigny and Bussy le Grand, to 
Menetoy. This time the company was assembled for good. 
The first few days at Menetoy showed rather a large at- 



tendance at sick call, but nothing was thought of this. 
The weather was very wet, the men drilled in the snow 
and were subjected to wet feet continually, and the climate 
of that part of the country was always a source of colds 
for the Yankees, but on the 5th of February four men were 
blue-tagged to the hospital, with the flu and twelve more 
followed within a week, then we realized that the flu had 
us. These were unhappy days, for five of our men died 
in the hospital within a few days, and about thirty were 
in the pest house. The medical force gained control of 
the disturber, and we commenced to come back to normal 
again. Company commanders changed, and the new com- 
mander at once abolished some unnecessary guard duty that 
had been causing men to go to the pest house or hospital 
after every tour of duty, and more discrimination was used 
regarding the nature of the weather. The men were not 
forced to stay out unnecessarily, so that the flu soon became 
a memory and a sad one, when we think of the ones who 
never came back from the hospital. C company began 
to police up and clean up, for after a tour of duty in the 
lines we had become careless and looked decidedly slop- 
py. By the time the big review was held we were as fine 
looking as any outfit on the field. On March 26th, at 
4:45 A. M. we had reveille, and immediately after we ate 
breakfast there, we were then loaded on trucks and were 
hauled to Venary, where General Pershing was to review 
the 78th division. We stood in formation on a muddy field 
while our colors were decorated with the ribbons for 
the St. Mihiel and Argonne fronts. About 7 P. M. 
the inspection and review were finished, and we listened 
to General Pershing's address. In his speech he said, "You 
are going home soon, I hope," and so did we. We had been 
standing in formation eleven hours. Our first man to go 
home (not via hospital) was Cook Leo C. Cain. Several 
weeks before we left Menetoy he received orders to pro- 
ceed homeward for discharge. Cain was our head cook, 
and a good one. His platoon and those who visited his 
kitchen while in the lines have much praise for his meals 
furnished and nerve he displayed in maintaining his kitchen 
under the continuous shelling. On March 25th, the 78th 



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division was transferred to the 8th Army Corps. This 
was a genuine homeward bound preparation, and was wel- 
comed with a vin blanc celebration, that was second only 
to the one that was held on the night orders were received 
that we were to start on the homeward bound journey. 
The days dragged slowly, bub the sure signs, such as polic- 
ing up of the area we had occupied meant that we were 
going to move somewhere, sometime. On April 24th, about 
8 A. M. we hiked to Semur, and stood around waiting to 
be herded into our box cars. Before leaving Menetoy an 
absurd amount of rations was issued to us with instruc- 
tions not to eat any of it. Now, when a few pounds were 
added to our packs, in the early days we docilely carried it, 
but now, nothing doing. It was only a short time until 
the Frogs were in possession of most of the rations. Char- 
acteristic of the French peasants was the action of the 
natives of Menetoy, who were given these rations. One 
nice old lady, who was always ready to do the soldiers a 
favor, cooking, washing, mending and anything that did not 
cost her money, was the recipient of corned beef, beans, 
bacon and hard tack, to the extent of some fifty or sixty dol- 
lars worth. "Merci, merci, Monsieur," until one thought she 
was overcome with gratitude, but when our fellows got 
eggs and milk from her, they had to pay the regular price, 
which was about 10 cents a quart for milk, and a dollar a 
dozen for eggs. She was no skinflint, either, she was mere- 
ly one of those thousands of French, not poor and not rich, 
who could live where a Jew would starve. At Semur 
we ate dinner at the entraining kitchen, and were given 
cocoa, cakes and chocolate by the Y. M, C. A. This was 
the first substantial free issue we had ever received from 
the Y. M. C. A., and was only the first of many agree- 
able surprises that greeted us between Semur and Mar- 
seilles. All bed sacks had been hauled from Menetoy to 
Semur. The straw in them, as we had been sleeping on 
them was left instead of being thrown out. This was an- 
other new departure, for heretofore we had emptied the 
bed sacks and carried them in our packs. At Semur the 
sacks full of straw were placed on the bottom of the box 
cars, an arrangement much more comfortable than the 



board floors we had become so well acquainted with. After 
having loaded on the box cars our train pulled out of 
Semur about 11 A. M. The cars were about the same size 
as American box cars, in fact, they were built in America 
for the A. E. F., having four-wheel trucks, instead of the 
old-country type of two-wheelers. Forty-five men was the 
assignment to each car, but some of the companies' cars 
managed to get themselves loaded with much less (leave 
it to C Company), so for once we had room enough to 
stretch out and sleep. The route was through Beaune and 
down the Rhone to Marseilles. The scenery, especially 
along the Rhone, was by far the finest we had seen in 
France, and when we neared Marseilles the lake came in 
view. The trip was well worth the trouble for the scen- 
ery alone, but coupled with the knowledge that we were 
going home, our spirits were high when we pulled into 
Marseilles about dusk on the 25th. The train had been 
provided with a kitchen car that furnished us with hot 
coffee at several stops. Also the crew, cars and engine 
were American, which explains the noticeable lack of de- 
lay by the train crew, an ever-present evil when we were 
hauled by French crews. 

A twenty-minute hike from the train landed us in Camp 
Covington, our last camp in France, for which we have 
no regrets. 

The first thing off the bat was inevitable physical in- 
spection that we had had so much of during our year in 
France. After this task was finished we were allowed 
to go to the barracks and turn in. 

The order to start homeward had been sprung on us so 
suddenly that it seemed almost too good to be true, and 
after we made the start everything had moved so smooth 
ly (thanks to the American system that was employed 
on this troop movement) that we were about half afraid 
some fool bugler would blow first call for reveille and 
bring us all out of it into the old exasperation of wait- 
ing in Menetoy. 

Three days of beaucoup dust and bully beef at Mar- 
seilles were terminated by the final hike to the pier from 
which we loaded onto the Re d'ltalia. 



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The last man was on board about 4:30 that afternoon and 
at 5 o'clock the cables were loosened and the last leg 
of our year's journey was started. 

The Re d'ltalia was no pleasuse boat, but it was so 
much better than the Toloa that we were satisfied to let 
well enough alone. 

The biggest complaint was against the food, or rather the 
lack of it. Everything was cooked to perfection but 
there was never enough, and the changes in the menu 
were so few that the discontent soon made itself ap- 
parent in the mess line. The old query "when do we 
eat" became so persistent that our mess officer quickly 
got on the job and we had better eats the balance of the 
trip, although not nearly so good as we had been used 
to. 

A quite necessary evil while in France was the famous, 
or infamous "bully beef". Imagine the nerve of the 
"wops" in attempting to feed us that when there was 
ample fresh meat on board ! The cases of "bully" — six 
of them — were brought up from the hold and laid on 
the deck overnight, or rather part of the night, but the 
"bully" was destined to make the sharks realize the hor- 
rors of war because somebody fed it to them before 
morning and we ate something more appetizing that day. 
From Marseilles to Gibraltar on the Mediterranean the 
trip was beautiful. The coast of Spain was visible part 
of the time, the temperature was mild and the sea very 
smooth. Then besides, WE WERE ON OUR WAY 
HOME, so what more could we want? 

When the ship reached Gibraltar a day was spent in 
coaling. The methods employed were quite a contrast 
to what would be expected of a station with Gibraltar's 
importance. The coal was piled on a pier alongside 
which the Re d'ltalia tied up, and it was carried aboard 
in baskets. The baskets held eighty to one hundred 
pounds and were carried by a bunch of undersized Span- 
iards — one basket to a man. Those little fellows were 
husky though and were going just as strong at the end 
of a ten-hour day as at the start. 
There was no opportunity to go ashore at Gibraltar as 



we had hoped, so we had to be satisfied with merely 
an external glimpse of the famous rock. 
Of course the time-worn joke about the insurance sign 
was pulled and a few over-credulous persons strained 
their eyes in an attempt to see the great Prudential 
advertisement. 

Before sundown the same day that the ship coaled we 
turned toward the Atlantic and although the progress was 
slow, we were satisfied, but after the straits had been 
cleared the old boat seemed to be trying herself in an 
effort to put the coast of Spain away in the rear. 
For several hours that night the ship was piloted by a 
school of porpoises. The ship was making a good rate 
of speed, but the porpoises kept just ahead, and in the 
moonlight the phosphorescent flashes of their bodies, as 
they skipped ahead of us, dived, came up and skipped 
out of the water again, made a sight well worth see- 
ing. For about three nights these fish swam "like por- 
poises" for us but after we neared mid-ocean they left us. 
On the third day out from Gibraltar it looked as if we 
were in for some bad weather, but a wireless from a ship 
ahead that had run into the storm caused our skipper to 
alter his course and sail south of the storm. We missed 
the storm but the sea was rough enough to cause about 
half of our shipload to develop a strong affection for 
the rail. Everything came up but the moon ! 
As soon as the sea-sickness wore off, the trip became just 
one day after another of "when do we eat?" and "where 
are we today?" 

"Where are we today?" was shown on a chart in the 
hold of the ship and was as popular as a score-board 
in world series time. The last day of our trip the "Where 
are we?" chart was inconspicuously wrapped around the 
cane of "Tubby" Mohr and carried away with him "bon 
souvenir." 

On May 13 we crawled into New York harbor and finally 
went down the gang plank (about supper time). 
On the pier we immediately began to realize that we 
were really at home. The Red Cross had a big supper 
ready that was a regular feast for us after the fare on 



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the Re d'ltalia. There was pie, real pie, and we had 
not tasted pie for a year. Then the Y. M., the J. W. 
B., the K. of C. and the Salvation Army were there with 
fruit, chocolate, chewing gum, cigarettes, 'n'everything. 
Oh my ! the royal reception we did get. It made us feel 
like going back and coming home again — almost. 
From the pier we went to the train that hauled us direct 
ly to Camp Dix. Y. M. and Red Cross both kept us 
loaded with more smokes and eats than we could use. 
For the first time in a year we were actually fed up on 
chocolate. 

About 1 :00 a. m. we landed in Dix, and finally went to 
bed in the same barracks that we lived in during the first 
stage of our eventful army career. 

On May 14 the final de-cootieizing commenced. We 
marched to a big shed, carrying everything we had, and 
turned in the blankets, underwear and old clothing. Next 
we had a real shower and were issued new underwear 
and what clothing was needed. Everybody tried to get 
dolled up as fine as possible before going home, but this 
seemed impossible. The clothing did not fit and hob- 
nailed shoes do not make a very dressy appearance, but 
these things did not seem to matter when the red chev- 
ron was sewed on — that chevron was enough to make 
any old uniform feel good. 

The time from the fourteenth to the eighteenth of May 
were the longest four days we spent in the army, and for 
the majority of Company C was the last four days so 
spent. 

The manner of discharging men in Camp Dix caused us 
to stay in the vicinity of the barracks all the time. First 
the company commander turned all of our service records 
over to the discharge unit, where the payrolls were made 
up. When the payrolls were made up the names on 
them were called and those whose names were called 
reported at once for physical examination. If a man 
happened to be away when his name was called he was 
very likely to be out of luck for an indefinite time. 
The physical examination was a joke. Provided that 
the soldier had made no claim for disability, he went 



through so fast that the various clerks had hard work 
getting his name and number. For instance when one 
came to the dentist the dentist asked, "Your teeth 

alright?" "All but two that " the fellow started to 

reply but was cut off by the D. O. who snapped out 
"Get them fixed at the lower end of camp. Next." If 
a man made a claim for disability it meant a prolonged 
stay in the army until all the red tape had been untan- 
gled and his claim adjusted. Needless to say that the 
prospects of an early return home versus an indefinite 
time in the army kept the claims down to a minimum, 
and, of course, many who should have claimed disability 
did not do so. 

After the examination we returned to the barracks to 
wait until we were called for pay. This finally came, for 
the ones being discharged at Camp Dix, on the 18th and 
19th of May. 

All of C company was taken to Camp Dix from New 
York and then the men were grouped according to the 
states in which their homes were. The men from Vir- 
ginia, West Virginia and all the states lying north of 
these two were discharged from Dix while the balance 
were sent to camps nearer their home states. Many of 
the men destined for southern and western camps had 
not left Camp Dix for some time after the eastern bunch 
had been discharged. 

However, long before this book goes to press, they will 
all have settled in the old job again and be thankful that 
at last it is "finis le guerre." 



Just a Thought 

And just to think — 
A slap of ink 

Embroiled the world in war! 
A fleet of ships 
Through U boats slip — 

A kaiser is no more. 



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•^?Y 0F-CO^PANY H^DQU^raRS^ECTION 





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Company Commanders 

Lieutenant Sultzer 
Captain H. E. Brabant 
Lieutenant Paul L. Rittenhouse 
Lieutenant E. F. Roosevelt 
Captain Morris E. Strieby 
Captain Luther A. Hagar 
Lieutenant Harry E. Olsen 
Lieutenant Leroy N. Suddath 
Lieutenant George Sauerhoff 
Captain Morris E. Strieby 
Captain Gill E. Pagan 

ON AUGUST 27th, 1918, the headquarters' section of 
the company bade good-bye and good luck to the 
last of the platoons leaving to join its regiment of 
infantry. 

The headquarters detachment then became the S. O. S. of 
the company and made all of its moves with battalion head- 
quarters. The company C O was also battalion C O, so 
the headquarters' section saw but very little of him. 
On August 28th the headquarters' section was reduced by 
the loss of Murnane, Greene and Lee, who were sent to 
the Division Signal Supply Officer for special duty. Upon 
leaving Bourbonne-les-Bains on the 28th, the section in- 
cluded George Koehler, Harry Sanford, Billings, Kaufman, 
Langford and Watt. 

After marching from 2:30 P. M. to 10 P. M., we pulled 
into Breuvannes, and bivouaced there for the night with 
battalion headquarters. Resumed the march the next day 
at 1 :1S P. M., and made St. Thiebault at 5 P. M. Prep- 



arations for an indefinite stay were made here. We actually 
staid but eight days. That gave us ample time, however, 
to make up the monthly rosters and returns under con- 
venient conditions as headquarters had been established in 
a good billet. Kaufman took over the work of repairing 
lame signal equipment, and Burke came in from his platoon 
to work with him. 

Up and away again on September 4th, marching at night 
and keeping under cover during the day. Aside from the 
fatigue and hardships of such a march, it proved unevent- 
ful. Arrived at Chatenois on the 7th after passing through 
Neufchateau. After a three-day stay at Chatenois, we 
were loaded on French Lorries driven by Indo-Chinamen, 
and transported to a piece of woods, the Bois de la Cote 
en Haye. We were not here long before we heard our 
artillery banging away just ahead of us and could even 
hear the explosion of some incoming shells, so we began 
to realize that we were at last going up the line. Early 
next morning we ran a line from our battalion headquarters 
to division headquarters, located in a dugout just outside 
of Regnieville, and division headquarters was, in turn, con- 
nected with a line that was being run in from corps head- 
quarters. Then we established company headquarters in 
a bell tent we had salvaged up in the British sector and 
made preparations for a few days stay. At 8 o'clock, 
though, we received orders to move forward, and at 9 
we were all set to comply. We moved out in a pouring 
rain and re-established ourselves as best we could in the 
Bois de Langmois. This piece of woods had a thick under- 
growth of scrub and small trees, and we surely used some 
choice language trying to find space enough to pitch a tent 



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with the rain making conditions all the more miserable. 
We weren't the only ones to cuss, though, as after we had 
pitched our tents and crawled into our damp blankets, we 
could hear cussing— beaucoup cussing — on all sides. We 
couldn't use lights or flashlights, either, as we were now 
pretty close to where Jerry held forth. Some of the boys 
gave up the job and just flopped on the wet ground in the 
rain, and rolled up in their blankets for the night. To add 
to our difficulties, the big barrage that opened up the St. 
Mihiel drive was started at about 1 A. M., and we were 
wakened by it. Then some big naval guns, emplaced in 
our piece of woods added their bit, and we resigned our- 
selves to a sleepless night despite our fatigue. In the 
morning we saw some of the results of all the hullabaloo, 
as a continuous stream of captured Jerries poured by our 
woods enroute to the P. C. in the rear. At 9 o'clock that 
night we were again on the march and kept at it until 
2:30 A. M., when we pulled into Limey. In the morning 
we established headquarters alongside of a truck in what 
used to be Limey's main street, and cleared up the ac- 
cumulating paper work. 

At this place some mail from the States caught up to us 
and was sorted out to platoons on the main street of 
Limey. The next day it was sent to each of the platoons 
and distrrbuted to all the men. 

The few nights we were located in Limey were clear moon- 
light nights, so Jerry planes were ever dropping their loads 
around on all sides of us. We were sleeping in our pup 
tents alongside of old trenches, which proved to be quite 
an advantage for some. No damage was done in our im- 
mediate vicinity, but quite a few bombs were dropped in 
the other end of the town. 

From Limey we moved a long way with division headquar- 
ters and our battalion headquarters to the edge of Loge 
Mangin facing Thiaucourt. 

At this place another open air headquarters was established 
for two days. On account of being under direct observa- 
tion of the enemy we were ordered further into the woods 
and established a permanent headquarters in the bell tent 
which we camouflaged with branches of trees. We sal- 



vaged a table and some chairs from a dugout and fitted up 
an orderly room and repair shop and sleeping quarters all 
in the one tent. 

Koehler, with a few of the headquarters detachment men, 
began the salvaging of old German wire, Sergeant Sanford 
handling all the paper work which was quite a problem get- 
ting all the casualty reports and changes, dropping men from 
the rolls, forwarding service records to the central records 
office, and sending the mail up to Regimental headquarters 
for the distribution to the platoons. There was no night 
work in this line of duty, for absolutely no lights could be lit 
in the tent. 

Early in September, Sergeant first class Koehler left the de- 
tachment to attend the 2nd Corps school at Chatillon-Sur- 
Seine. 

On the night of October 5th the headquarters detachment 
was relieved by the 90th Division and started to the rear. 
After a two nights' hike we were transported in trucks from 
Pierrefitte to Beauchamps Ferme. Two days' rest here and 
we started up into the Argonne. Established a P. C. at 
Varennes for two days and moved from there to Le Mihel 
Ferme establishing headquarters again. No work was done 
for this place was under artillery fire almost continually day 
and night. From Le Mihel Ferme we moved about one kilo 
to Chatel Chehery and established our headquarters in a 
house on the main street of the town. At this place we ex- 
perienced several mine explosions, artillery bombardments 
a.nd air raids. Headquarters detachment had its hands full 
with work at this station, getting caught up in the work that 
had accumulated since leaving the St. Mihiel front. On the 
advance November 1st headquarters moved forward with 
the advancing division through Grand Pre, Briquenay and 
Authe to Brieulles where the division was relieved and start- 
ed back for another rest, returning to Chatel Chehery and 
from there to the Crown Prince's dugouts near Varennes. 
After a day and a half here we moved to Camp Boise near 
Florent. It was at this camp that news of the signing of the 
armistice was received. From Camp Petit Boise we moved 
to Varreriers and from Varreriers we hiked to St. Mene- 
holde, where we entrained and moved to the Semur Area. 



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Aug. 27 — The first platoon left the company at Bourbonne- 
les-Bains and hiked five kilometers to Serqueax, where it 
was attached to regimental headquarters of the 309th In- 
fantry. 

Aug. 28 — Left Serqueax at 2 p. m., hiked u.ntil 5, when we 
fell out for chow served from the rolling kitchen. Contin- 
ued the march until arriving at Levecourt at 9 :30 p. m. 
Bivouaced in field after the 26 kilometer hike made since 
leaving the company. 

Aug. 29 — Left Levecourt 10 a. m. — had mess 12 to 1 from 
rolling kitchen. Arrived at Gencourt 4 p. m., 19 kilometer 
hike, pitched tents. During our stay here indulged in a bath, 
the last for many a day. 

Sept. 4 — Had regimental problem until 2 p. m. Returned, 
rolled packs and left at 9:15 p. m., hiking until 2:20 a. m. 
Pitched tents in woods near Vudercourt. 

Sept. 5 — Left woods at 11:15 p. m. Arrived at Belmont 
2 :00 a. m., where we were billeted in hay loft. Our hostess 
treated us to beaucoup plums. 

Sept. 6 — Left Belmont 8 p. m., and hiked to Dommartin- 
Sur-Vraine. Arrived at 11 :30 p. m., where we were billeted. 
Sept. 8 — Handed rifles again. Salvaged extra clothing. 
Sept. 10 — Left Dommartin at 5 :30 p. m., in pouring rain. 
Hiked about 4 kilometers and boarded trucks driven by 
coolies. Had instructions to crowd 16 men in truck, but end- 
ed up with from 20 to 26. 

Sept. 11 — At 6:30 arrived north of Toul and pitched tents 
in woods, but had no kitchen until supper time. Had a slice 
of bacon and two prunes, but all the bread we wanted. Left 
woods at 7 :30 p. m. and hiked in drizzling rain with mud 



over our shoe tops, carrying dixies of coffee, sugar and bread 
until midnight, when we pitched tents in the mud. Just 
turned in when barrage started which wiped out St. Mihiel 
sector. 14 inch railroad gun located about 100 yards away. 
First gas alarm! Fake. Dick Warren evacuated to hos- 
pital. 

Sept. 12 — Moved a few hundred yards to the Bois De La 
Cote D'En Hoge. The different sections were assigned to 
their battalions from here. 

Sept. 13 — Left the woods about 7 p. m. and hiked through 
shell-torn Limey and over the trenches where the lines had 
been before the drive. During this hike we were used as 
guides at all cross roads. Arrived about 4 a. m. at the Bois 
Du Beau Ballou, where we bivouaced. Had gas alarms every 
10 minutes till morning. 

Sept. 15 — Took over the lines. Relieved 5th Marines. Reg- 
imental Headquarters located 2y 2 kilos from Thiaucourt in 
abandoned German camp in a valley. Second battalion in 
lines at Jaulny, third battalion in support and first battalion 
in reserve. 

Sept. 16 — Took over the telephone system — all grounded 
circuits — so had to put in new lines, salvaging the wire for 
this purpose. 

Sept. 22 — Third battalion took over lines, first battalion in 
support and second battalion in reserve. 
Sept. 26 — Third battalion participated in a raid centering 
near Rembercourt, keeping communication by phone all the 
time. 

Sept. 27 — First battalion took over the lines, second battal- 
ion in reserve and third battalion in support. 
Sept. 28 — Stark and Reilly evacuated — sick. 



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Oct. 4 — McD&niels and Hornberger evacuated — gassed. Re- 
lieved by 82nd division and hiked to Bois Du Beau Ballou. 
Oct. 5 — Started our own kitchen with Paur as cook, cele- 
brated with a wonderful feed of steak, Pomme De Terre 
Frittes, French toast, butter and prunes, coffee. Judd, John- 
son and Philiber evacuated — gas. 

Oct. 6 — Left woods 6 p. m. and hiked till 3 :15 a. m. Slept in 
abandoned dugouts. Shibla evacuated — gas. Near Giron- 
ville. 

Oct. 7 — Were ordered to have packs made up by 2 p. m., 
stood around until 6, when we started that never-to-be-for- 
gotten hike to Nicey, where we bivouaced in an open field, 
lying in puddles and a pouring rain. 

Oct. 8 — Were ordered to make up our packs at 5 :45, had a 
slice of bacon and boarded trucks at 10 a. m., arriving at 
Raucourt at 4:30 p. m., from whence we hiked to Camp 
Robeleau, a French camp, arriving at 6 :30. 
Oct. 11 — Continued the march to LaClaon, arriving at dusk. 
Practically the whole brigade was camped here and all ex- 
hibited lights, causing Jerry to pay us a visit. Luckily his 
bombs did little or no damage. 

Oct. 12 — Left LaClaon at 7 a. m. and hiked 7 kilos into the 
Argonne, where we pitched tents. 

Oct. 13 — Advanced 5 kilometers further into the woods, 
camping about 1 1 / 2 kilos south of Chatel Chehery. 
Oct. 14 — Received men from Bn Hq to fill up. Reassign- 
ment of sections made. Parker evacuated. 
Oct. 15 — Relieved 77th division, third battalion in lines, sec- 
ond in support and first in reserve. 

Oct. 16 — Third battalion attempted to take Champig- 
neulle. Retired. Schuler evacuated, G. S. W. ; W. A. 
Smith G. S. W. ; Presly, Page and Smested — sick. Oliver 
and Morris, shrapnel. Morris, G. S. W. 
Oct. 17 — First battalion advanced P. C. about a kilo along 
St. Juvin — Grand-Pre road and attacked Bois De Loges. 
Retired. First battalion in support. 

Oct. 18 — First battalion took over the lines, and laid tele- 
phone line to P. C. Ruttstien evacuated — G. S. W. and 
Kirshner evacuated. 



Oct. 19 — First battalion attacked Bois De Loges, trying to 
keep up telephone communication for 36 hours, but shrapnel 
was falling too fast. Retired. Rector evacuated — sick. 
Oct. 20 — Changed Reg. P. C. from St. Juvin to Marcq. 
Steele evacuated G. S. W. — sick. 

Oct. 24 — Third battalion in lines, second battalion in support 
and first battalion in reserve. 
Oct. 25 — Replacements arrived to fill up. 
Oct. 27 — Pils and Sams evacuated — G. S. W. 
Nov. 1 — 5 :30 p. m., after a three-hour barrage started Hun- 
chasing. Bergquist evacuated — G. S. W. 
Nov. 2 — Battalion signalmen carried and laid fourteen reels 
of wire, having P. C. near Ruzelle Farm, the most ad- 
vanced regimental telephone exchange in the division. 
Nov. 3 — Spent the night at Beffu, a detachment going ahead 
with the advance to act as runners. 

Nov. 4 — Headquarters established at Germont where we op- 
erated relay station and maintained lines. Sent out shifts 
patrolling lines. 

Nov. 5 — Were relieved by the 42nd division and hiked back 
to Marcq, arriving at 2 p. m. 

Nov. 7 — Hiked to Argonne woods and pitched tents. 
Nov. 1 1 — Were rudely awakened at 1 :20 a. m. and had to 
take a bath in a cold barn. Left about 9 a. m. for Sevry-Sur- 
Ante, passing through St. Meneholde as the church bells 
sounded "La Guerre est fini." 

Nov. 12 — First section assigned to second battalion to oper- 
ate telephone. Located at Dans Prerre-Le-Chateau. 
Nov. 13 — 3rd section assigned to 1st Bn. 
Nov. 16 — Boarded train at Villier-Dancourt. 
Nov. 17 — Arrived at Semur and hiked to Epoisses, where 
we were billeted. 

Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Day ! One long to be remembered. 
Bought turkeys and had a baker cook them. Some feed! 
Dec. 24— Had a big time at Y. M. C. A., each soldier receiv- 
ing a present of cigarettes, candy and tobacco. 
Jan. 27 — Rejoined company, all "loaded" on truck. 

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Aug. 27 — The platoon, under command of Lt. Sauerhoff, 
left Co. C at Bourbonne-les-Bains and hiked eight kilos to 
Fresnes to join the 310th Regiment. 

Aug. 28 — We rolled packs and hiked 18 kilos with 310th In- 
fantry and pitched shelter tents at Toulaincourt about 9 p. 
m. Were rationed with 310 M. G. Co. 
Aug. 29 — Had reveille at 5 a. m. and started at 7 on a 15 kilo 
hike, then we stopped for dinner. After dinner we hiked 
eight kilos to Sommerecourt. 

Aug. 30 — Established communication with first and second 
battalions. 

Aug. 31 — Hooked up third battalion and salvaged wire. 
Sept. 2 — Went on brigade manoeuver. 
Sept. 4 — Recovered all telephone lines and left Sommere- 
court at 11 p. m. and hiked 18 kilos in rain and camped in 
woods. 

Sept. 5 — Left woods at 10 p. m. and hiked 18 kilos to Vau- 
dancourt. 

Sept. 6 — Left Vaudancourt woods at 9 p. m. in darkness, 
mud and rain and hiked 10 kilos to Gironcourt and pitched 
tents at 2 a. m. 

Sept. 7 — Put in regimental telephone net connecting second 
and third battalions in next town. 

Sept. 8 — Platoon was issued rifles. Beaucoup mail from 
home. 

Sept. 10 — Left Gironcourt at 6 p. m. on motor lorries and 
traveled all night to a point in woods 16 kilos northwest of 
Toul. Lots of rain. 

Sept. 11 — Moved into reserve lines at dusk and advanced all 
night through almost impassable mud. 



Sept. 12 — At 1 a. m. the great St. Mihiel drive started. We 
advanced 8 kilos at night through trenches and barbed wire 
and shell holes over the ground taken from the Huns. First 
section of platoon was attached to first battalion of 310th 
Infantry, second section to the second battalion and the 
fourth section to the third battalion and the third and fifth 
sections to Regimental Hdqrs. 

Sept. 13 — Advanced again through Limey to Bois de En- 
vesin and stayed in old German trenches. 
Sept. 14 — Stayed in reserve all day and salvaged a large 
quantity of Jerry wire from trenches. Fake gas alarms were 
ringing all night. 

Sept. 15 — Left Bois de Envesin at 8 p. m. and marched into 
Thiaucourt at 12 p. m., where 310th Regimental headquar- 
ters was established and relieved the Marines. The platoon 
was under the first actual shell fire as it crossed the bridge 
into Thiaucourt. The Huns had marked the bridge well on 
their map and made several direct hits. 
Sept. 16 — The town was heavily shelled all day. We 
picked out a route by daylight and ran out a line to forward 
battalion — a distance of about 3 kilos — and one to support 
battalion at night under heavy shell fire and gas. 
Sept. 17 — Ran additional lines, under continuous shell 
fire. 

Sept. 18 — Heavy casualties around Thiaucourt. Moved 
exchange to a better dugout. Lines continually cut by 
shell fire. 

Sept. 19 — Henry Wolfe killed. Big shell hit in house 
above cellar where our exchange was located and cut all 
wires and blockaded entrance. 
Sept. 20 — Ran new line to artillery. Ensminger wounded. 



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Sept. 21 — Located a spot for an O. P. and ran line out at 
night. We sent over a heavy barrage at 1 a. m. and sent 
over raiding party. The Huns answered simultaneously 
by sending over a creeping barrage and our O. P. line 
alone was cut in 17 places in a distance of half a miie. 
Sept. 22 — No let-up for Sunday. Jerry pounded away on 
Thiaucourt all day with about three H. E.s to one gas. 

Sept. 23 — Germans had the range on our water reservoir 

and almost prevented us from getting our water supply. 

Foote taken to hospital. 

Sept. 24 — Our engineers blew up Thiaucourt church steeple, 

thinking the Huns were using it for a landmark. 

Sept. 25 and 26 — Quiet during the day but beaucoup 

heavy shelling during the night and beaucoup work on 

the lines. 

Sept. 27 — American and French batteries poured over a 

heavy barrage all night. Douglas sent to hospital. 

Sept. 28 — Usual routine of fixing the lines as they were 

knocked out until October Sth. 

Oct. 4 — Bock sent to hospital. 

Oct. 5 — Were relieved by 89th Division under heavy 
shell fire. Left Thiaucourt at 4 a. m. and hiked 18 kilos 
to Beaumont woods at 1 p. m. Left woods at 12 mid- 
night and hiked 20 kilos to cross roads near Gironville. 
Reached there at 10 a. m. and had light dinner. Ehlers 
fell out and was taken to hospital. Left Gironville at 
4 p. m. and hiked 25 kilos and landed in open field near 
Nicey at 2:30 a. m. October 7. Slept in puddles of 
water and pouring rain until 5 a. m. and had light break- 
fast. These had been forced marches and the road-sides 
were strewn with all-in soldiers. We left Nicey at 8 
a. m. in lorries and rode 30 kilos to Rarecourt, arriving 
there at 2 p. m. and then hiked 4 kilos to Camp Robeleau, 
where we were in reserve behind the 77th Division for 
three days. Bockmann sent to hospital. 
Oct. 11 — Left Camp Robeleau at 12:30 p. m. and hiked 
9 kilos to La Claon and pitched shelter tents in woods on 
a steep hill. Jerry dropped beaucoup bombs, causing some 
casualties. 



Oct. 12 — Marched out of La Claon at 7 a. m. and went 
6 kilos forward. Were now in support of the 77th Divi- 
sion. 

Oct. 13 — Advanced 5 kilos and camped at La Viergetie 
cross roads until the 15th. Leo and Burgenson sent to 
hospital. 

Oct. 15 — Ready to move forward at half an hour's notice. 
Left cross roads in mud and rain and hiked 7 kilos for- 
ward and relieved 77th Division at 12 midnight. 
Oct. 16 — Worked on lines and established communica- 
tions for 62 hours without any sleep. Ditmer gassed. 

Oct. 17 — Carried wire from cross roads, through a foot 
of mud to advance P. C. above Marcq. Walker and 
Adams gassed. Clarence Brooks captured a German, 
only one captured by the Signal Corps. 
Oct. 18 — Heavy shelling during these days and many of 
the boys sick. J. H. Billings gassed. 
Oct. 19 — Ran a line to brigade. 

Oct. 20 — Abandoned exchange at rear P. C. and went to 
new P. C, until November 1. When the big drive started, 
we were kept on the jump splicing lines as fast as Jerry's 
loads of loose iron dropped on them. Wade gassed. 
Oct. 22— Received replacements. 
Oct. 26 — Received more replacements. 
Nov. 1 — At 3 :30 a. m. the great homeward-bound bar- 
rage opened up. Bois de Loges taken by 310th Infantry. 
Nov. 2 — Left Marcq at 1 :30 p. m. and advanced 8 kilos 
to Beffu et Le Mort Homme and installed one telephone 
line to the Colonel's billet at night. 
Nov. 3 — Advanced 8 kilos over congested roads and 
spent the night at Bricquenay. 

Nov. 4 — Advanced 6 kilos to Authe and spent the night. 
Nov. 5 — Ran line with brigade linemen from Authe to 
Brieulles. Relieved by 42nd Division and left Authe at 
10:30 p. m. and hiked back to muddy field near Germont 
and spent rest of the night in a standing sleep. Second 
battalion, 310th Infantry, advanced to the Village of 
Sy after relieving 1st and 3rd battalions at Verrieres. 

(Continued on page 35) 



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Aug. 5, 1918 — The third platoon marched from Herlin-le- 
Sec and joined the 311th Infantry at Roellecourt, con- 
tinuing with this unit to Habarcq Wood, near Herma- 
ville, west of Arras. Maneuvered with the regiment at 
Habarcq Wood. Established our first telephone ex- 
change at Hermaville, the net extending through the 
reserve trench system established by the British back 
of Arras. 

Aug. 8 — Returned, a pieds, to our camp at Herlin-le-Sec, 
upon completion of maneuvers. 

Aug. 10 — Engaged in a divisional maneuver near St. Pol. 

Aug. 11 — Third platoon marched to FoufHin-Ricametz, 
making camp there for the night, preparatory to rejoin- 
ing the 311th Infantry in the morning. 

Aug. 12 — Rejoined the 311th Infantry at Roellecourt and 
marched with it to Lattre-St. Quentin, the headquarters 
section establishing the regimental exchange at Lattre- 
St. Quentin ; another section going with the first bat- 
talion and establishing a station with it at the same 
place. Other sections performed the same service with 
the second battalion at Hauteville and with the third 
battalion at Fosseux. Some light communication was 
also established and operated. 

Aug. 18 — Another payday. 

Aug. 20 — Marched with the 311th Infantry to Tincques 
and entrained. From then on until detrainment passed 
through St. Pol, Amiens, through the outskirts of Paris 
at 6 a. m., August 21, through Chateau Thierry at 10 
a. m., August 21, viewing the battlefield upon which 
the second battle of the Marne was fought. Also went 
bathing in the Marne at 11 a. m. 



Aug. 22 — (9 a. m.) Detrained at Passavant. Went into 
billets and began the installation of another regimental 
telephone net. Headquarters section at Passavant, first 
battalion at Crochette, second battalion at Martenville, 
third battalion at Corre. In this area until Aug. 28. 

Aug. 28 — Marched out of Passavant, about noon, making 
camp that night at Fresnes, in newly-made Yank bar- 
racks. 

Aug. 29 — Continued the march from Fresnes, through 
Bourbonne-les-Bains to Merrey, making camp just out- 
side the village for the night. 

Aug. 30 — Continued the march from Merrey. Headquar- 
ters detachment going to Breuvannes, first battalion just 
outside of Breuvannes, second battalion to Damblain, 
third battalion to Colombey. Another regimental tele- 
phone net was laid out here. 

Sept. 4 — (9 p. m.) Marched out of Breuvannes, arriv- 
ing at Saulxuries at 10 :30 a. m., September 5. 

Sept. 5 — (3 p. m.) Resumed the march, arriving at Vio- 
court at 10 p. m. Headquarters detachment took up its 
position at Viocourt, first battalion at the same place, 
second and third battalions at nearby towns. Another 
net was laid out with light communication to second 
and third battalions. 

Sept. 10 — (1 p. m.) Hiked from Viocourt to a village 
just beyond Chatenois, and took motor lorries — French 
machines driven by French Indo-Chinamen. Rode all 
night, passing through Neufchateau. 

Sept. 11 — Arrived at a point a few kilos outside of Do- 
mevres, left the lorries, and made camp. Broke camp as 



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soon as it became dark and marched closer to Domevres, 
making camp in the Bois de la Rappe. 
Sept. 11-12 — (Midnight) Arrived in the wood last men- 
tioned and made shelter for the night. Heard the bar- 
rage that began the drive that wiped out the St. Mihiel 
salient — our first experience, at close hand, with artillery. 
Were encamped next to some French railroad artillery, 
which was bombarding Metz at the time. Had our first 
gas alarm — a false one. 

Sept. 14 — (4 a. m.) Left woods and started hiking and 
were still on the go at 4 a. m. the next day, with only 
short rests, little to eat, and no sleep. 
Sept 15 — (4 a. m.) Arrived at abandoned German dug- 
out camp — abandoned since Sept. 12. Had good sleep 
and spent the day looking for souvenirs. Put in two or 
three telephone lines. 

Sept. 16 — Hiked from camp after dark, headed for our 
place in the lines. 

Sept. 17 — Arrived in the woods south of Vieville-en- 
Haye, relieving the 11th Infantry and the 9th Field Sig- 
nal Battalion at noon — our first time in the line. Second 
battalion in line, first battalion in support and third bat- 
talion in reserve. 

Sept. 20 — Hedloff wounded by shrapnel while he and 
Leas were repairing line to 312th Infantry. Hedloff sent 
to hospital. 

Sept. 25 — Exchanged our rifles for automatic pistols. 
From this date until Oct. 5 we were holding these lines, 
each battalion taking its turn. 

Oct. 5 — Were relieved by the 357th Infantry, which had 
been on our right and which spread over to take up our 
position also. Marched back about 12 miles and en- 
camped in the woods. Met the 78th Y. M. C. A. girls 
for the first time. They served cocoa and passed out 
eats. 

Oct. 6 — Resumed the march at 4 p. m. and marched 
through Sampigny where we slept, without shelter, in a 
drizzling rain. Went to sleep about midnight. 
Oct. 7 — Resumed the march and encamped near Pierre- 
fitte, just after dark, in an open field again. 



Oct. 8 — Took motor lorries, about 2 p. m., at Pierrefitte 
and rode until about 8 p. m., when we went into some 
French barracks in the Argonne forest, just below Les 
Islettes. 

Oct. 9 — Laid telephone lines to brigade and the 312th In- 
fantry. 

Oct. 10— Left barracks at 7 a. m. and marched further up 
into the Argonne forest, behind the Yanks who were' 
pushing the Huns out of the forest. Encamped in the 
woods for the night. No village nearby except some 
abandoned German shacks. 

Oct. 11 — First anniversary of the 303. Moved up 10 
kilos farther in the Argonne forest and pitched tents. 
Oct. 14 — Left camp at 7 a. m. and marched all night, 
reaching La Besogne before daybreak. A small detach- 
ment of signalmen went forward as an advance party to 
La Folie Farm. 

Oct. 15 — Advanced to position to rear of La Folie Farm, 
where the 311th Infantry P. C. was established. We took 
over and improved the telephone system established by 
the 77th Division, whom we relieved. 
Oct. 23— Leo J. Billing of the 3rd Bn. Signal Detach- 
ment killed by shrapnel. Ludy, Willette and McPhee 
were wounded by the same shell burst. 
Oct. 29 — We gas-shelled Jerry and he retaliated with 
beaucoup shells. 

Nov. 1— ( 5:30 a. m.) 153rd Artillery Brigade (78th 
Division) put over a tremendous barrage — no retaliation. 
Fritz beat it, with infantry and artillery hot after him. 
This was the start of the great drive toward Sedan. Ad- 
vance made through Grand-Pre, Bricquenay, Germont, 
Authe, Brieulles to Tannay. 

Nov. 3 — Signalmen reached Bricquenay and slept there 
for two hours in a barn. Called again and marched to 
Germont where they slept for the balance of the night. 
Nov. A — Arrived at Authe — installed 4-line switchboard 
as relay on division line. Stayed overnight in billets. 
Nov. 5 — Division relieved and marched back toward rest 
area. Our leading battalion was relieved at Tannay by 
the 42nd Division. 



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Nov. 6 — Reached La Folie Farm, where we put up for 

the night. 

Nov. 7 — March resumed — made tent camp for night in 

Argonne Forest at Varennes. Heard rumors of end of 

war — beaucoup fireworks and small arms firing. 

Nov. 9 — March resumed. Arrived at Florent and went 

into billets. 

Nov. 10 — Received news of Kaiser's abdication. 

Nov. 11 — Resumed the march. Heard news of Germany 

signing the armistice as we passed through St. Mene- 

holde. Arrived at Dommartin-sur-Yevre. Went into 

billets. 

Nov. 16 — Red divisional half-moons issued. 

Nov. 17 — (6 p. m.) Left Dommartin, via foot, and hiked 

to Givry-en-Argonne where we entrained. 

Nov. 19 — (4 a. m.) Detrained at Les Laumes. Hiked 

ten kilos up hill to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, department of 

Cote D'Or. Went into vacant houses. 

Nov. 27 — Were entertained at the Y. M. C. A. hut by the 

Carkeek Musical Co. from Paris. 

Nov. 28 — Celebrated greatest Thanksgiving Day in 

world's history. 

Dec. 2 — Went out on problem most of day. Passed 

through Semur, Pouillenay, Champ D'Oiseau, Chevigny. 

Rode in auto truck most of the time. 

Dec. 6 — Problem again — to Pouillenay. 

Dec. 7 — Another problem — Pouillenay again. 

Dec. 9 — Encore problem. How we do enjoy them ! 

Dec. 14 — Left via truck for Chevigny to join 303rd Field 

Signal Battalion for review and inspection. Met all the 

old gang for the first time since leaving Herlin-le-Sec 

for Hermaville. 

Dec. 15 — 303 F. S. B. inspected by a colonel from 1st 

Army Headquarters. Balance of day and evening spent 

in Semur — sight-seeing and eating "biftek avec pommes 

de terre frites et vin rouge avec citron et seltzer". Yum ! 

Dec. 16 — Left Chevigny on foot for Semur; boarded a 

train there — rode first class, too, as far as Pouillenay. 

Then we marched up the hill to Flavigny. 

Dec. 19 — Maneuver in close vicinity of Flavigny. 

Dec. 20 — Maneuver again. A hike to Marigny and back 

to Flavigny. 



Dec. 21 — First Christmas packages received from States. 
Dec. 23 — Major-General James H. McRae, commanding 
the 78th Division, presents D. S. Cs. to members of the 
311 Infantry. 

Dec. 24 — Had our clothes deloused. Peace from the coo- 
ties at last — maybe. 

Dec. 25 — Went to the midnight mass at Flavigny Church 
— read by a French interpreter attached to the 78th 
Division. Received Christmas packages from the Y. 
M. C. A. Mail from home, too. Had a fine dinner: 
roast pork, mashed potatoes, boiled onions, stewed car- 
rots, dressing, brown gravy, bread and butter, coffee, 
pumpkin pie, walnuts, malacca grapes, candy, cigars and 
cigarettes. In the Y. M. C. A. package was a cigar, can 
of tobacco, two bars of chocolate and two packages of 
cigarettes. 
Jan. 27 — Join company at Menetoy. 



SECOND PLATOON LOG— Continued 

Nov. 6 — Left Germont at 8 a. m. and hiked 18 kilos back 
to Marcq, where we spent the night, but without shell fire. 
Nov. 7 — Left Marcq at 7 a. m. ; hiked back to cross-roads. 
Nov. 8 — Hiked back to old German headquarters. Stayed 
in Crown Prince's old dugout. 

Nov. 9 — Hiked 18 kilos to Les Islettes at 12 noon and 
connected up battalions in p. m. 

Nov. 11 — Left Les Islettes at 9 a. m. and hiked through 
St. Meneholde to Daucourt, 16 kilos. Connected up bat- 
talions and brigade. 

Nov. 17 — Left Daucourt at 8 a. m. and hiked 3 kilos to 
Villiers-Daucourt to entrain — forty men to a car. 
Nov. 18 — Detrained at Les Laumes at 3 p. m. and hiked 
27 kilos through Semur and on to Vic de Chassenay at 
11 p. m. 

Nov. 19 — Connected up battalion and French line to 
Semur. 

Nov. 28 — Platoon had big Thanksgiving feed and three 
months' pay, and mail from home. Wow ! 
Dec. 11 — Platoon went back to 303rd Headquarters for 
inspection. 



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The Army Grouch Speaks 

NOW the "guerre" is over, why, it's time to take a slam 
at those who fought in clover whose middle name is 
Ham. There's lots of jinks with shiny puts who 
tried to run this war. Say, I'd have to have a lot of guts 
to work them in my store. They don't know much 'bout 
anything, and all they've got is pull. A senator is on their 
string; they keep his pockets full. It's politics, I tell you, 
that gave these muts their jobs ; the right to sport a bright 
dress shoe, while we jogged 'round in hobs. 

And all those sucker N. C. Os., they're pretty snakelike low. 
Why, I can tell you how they rose and how I come to know. 
They wanted me to be one, but say, I'm pretty wise ; I'd 
rather be a dirty hun than mingle with those guys. They 
kissed some upstart shavetail's feet, they pleaded hard for 
rank. They tried the army game to beat. In degradation 
sank. 

Then there's that gang of office nuts. They think they're 
just the cheese. They keep our records in the ruts. Be- 
lieve me, they don't please. 

Most every buck will realize why details are so frequent. 
It's just because the topkick tries to look just like a regent. 
And when we have assembly, say, it sure does nab our 
goats, 'cause he, to be contrary, prefers blouse to overcoats. 

You've heard some bunk 'bout army steeds, so gallant, gen- 
tle, true. But Kelly had the mangiest breeds, and flees were 
none to few. 

You'd comb and scrub and freely sweat, you'd brave the 
flying hoof, but Jimmie's ire you'd surely get, a'thundering 
to the roof. 

The doughboys have their troubles, the artillery has a few, 
but the signal corps just doubles the troubles of those two. 

They fed us up on sempahore, we wagged from many a 
stone, but when we hit the seat of war, it was all telephone. 

And talk about your hiking fools. Without regards to 



weather, we tramped about like common mules. We wasted 
beaucoup leather. 

And, by the way, I wish to say, while speaking of the army, 
if you've the nerve to try to serve an army feed, bar me! 
For it sure is the rottenest, a cure for appetite. When one 
partakes he chances chest and stomach in dire plight. 

The posters say we're finely dressed ; they picture us in 
serge; there's campaign badges on each breast; they cause 
a tempting urge. 

But boy, one gets an awful bump, when clothed in coarse 
O. D. It's mostly from some salvage dump and has a 
pedigree. 

It's much too large around the neck, too slim around the 
waist, and one appears to be a wreck when in these rags 
he's cased. 

If I was running our canteen, I'd give them reg'lar service. 
I wouldn't be a dumb "has been" like him whose s'pposed 
to serve us. 

They claim the Y. M., K. of C. and Red Cross have done 
wonders. The only things that I could see, were hymn 
books, prayers and blunders. 

A lot a pups got D. S. Cs., citations and high praise. On 
bended knees, they sprung their pleas, that's where their 
success lays. A chap I know's got one to show and I can't 
figure why. From his dugout the hun he'd rout. He was 
a cautious guy. 

The Frogs, they said, were glorious; the British were sub- 
lime. Believe me, bo, they looked to us like dirty, yellow 
slime. 

They rob the Yankee every chance, short change him when 
he's stewed. And though his blood means life for France, 
they show no gratitude. 

It's finis this and finis that. You're always in a line. I 
drowned my sorrows in a vat of sour, poisoned wine. 

The army game is mighty tough, they beat you, curse you, 
treat you rough, and I'm not pulling any bluff, when I 
say, kid, I've had enough. 



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Aug. 15 — The fourth platoon, in command of 1st Lieu- 
tenant Leroy N. Suddath, leaves Herlin-le-Sec for the 
town of Habarcq where it is to join the 312th Regiment 
of Infantry and be a part of that unit — the liaison part — 
as long as the war continues. 

Aug. 17 — We arrive at Habarcq where we are given a 
good meal and are quartered in British barracks. Our 
regiment is in reserve of the 6th British Division and we 
expect to go into the lines in a few days. Jerry pays 
us a visit, unloading one bomb 300 yards from our billet 
— killing a Frenchman. 

Aug. 20 — Receive orders to move immediately to an 
American sector. No one knows where or why we are 
going, but we pack up and board the familiar "40 
hommes" trains. After two days' riding, passing through 
St. Pol, Frevent, Bouvais, Paris, Chateau-Thierry, Chau- 
mont, Langres and seeing many new and strange sights, 
we arrive at the town of Passavant where we detrain and 
bivouac for the night. 

Aug. 23 — March 22 kilometers (will any of us ever for- 
get those heavy packs, those steep hills and the hot sun?) 
and arrive at Chatillon-sur-Saone, pitch tents and go 
swimming in the Saone river. Lay telephone lines to 
the 156th Brigade and the 311th Regiment at Passavant 
and to Division Headquarters at Bourbonne-les-Bains. 

Sept. 1 — Begin a hard two-day march to Blevaincourt 
where we are again quartered in wooden barracks, and 
again establish telephone connection with the other units 
of our brigade (the 156th). Systematic and rigid train- 
ing in all branches of signal work with the infantry sig- 
nallers commences and we participate in several manoeuvers. 



Sept. 5 — The first, second and third sections of the 
platoon and the same number of men from the infantry 
signal platoon are assigned to the three battalions of 
infantry — one section and an equal number of infantry 
signallers going with each battalion. The fourth and 
fifth sections (26 men) and the same number of infantry 
signalmen are assigned for work with the headquarters 
of the regiment. 

Sept. 6 — We begin to learn what it is to soldier: Eat- 
ing only when we are lucky, marching day and night, al- 
ways in the rain, sleeping (when we sleep) on muddy 
ground, usually in the edge of some woods, we realize 
that Sherman was right. Arriving at Balleville we estab- 
lish telephone liaison throughout our regiment, also a 
relay Lucas lamp system connecting with our second and 
third battalions located in nearby towns. 

Sept. 10— March to Chatenois where we board lorries 
driven by Indo-Chinamen and ride through Neufchateau 
and Toul — through what is known as Jeanne d'Arc's 
country — to a point near Domevres, where we unload 
about 10 p. m., bivouacing again in a large piece of 
woods. 

Sept. 11 — Resume the march under cover of darkness, 
and — ■ 

Sept. 12 — At 1 a. m., cold, hungry, too tired to know or 
care where we were, we march single-file into another 
piece of woods — the Bois de la Rappe — and are told to 
make ourselves comfortable. Fifteen minutes later — re- 
member how the earth seemed to open up, the guns 
roared, the shells screamed and the artillery flashed all 
around us? — the drive which was to wipe out the St. 
Mihiel salient began and we were in the war at last. 



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We were instructed to get out of our blankets and had to 
stand in the rain for the rest of the night — because Jerry 
might counter-attack. We get a good breakfast from 
a company of Marines nearby, sleep when we can during 
the day, and at 10 p. m., Sept. 13, move forward again, 
marching all night and all next day. We pass hundreds 
of German prisoners going to the rear under guard. 
Finally we arrive at a point which was No Man's Land 
only a few hours before. Death and destruction had 
tramped through ruthlessly, leaving in their wake the 
muddy clay trenches strewn with tangled barbed wire, 
mangled bodies, unused ammunition, guns, shattered 
dugouts and desolation, with shell holes everywhere. We 
move on slowly for the roads are full of shell holes and 
at dusk we fall out for a little rest on a hillside. Take 
up the march again at 11 p. m., marching all night and 
passing through piles of smouldering debris — remnants 
of towns sacrificed to the god of war. 

Sept. 14 — Arrive at another piece of woods, which had 
been a German stronghold since 1914. We passed the 
time during our brief stay here by exploring the wonder- 
ful Boche defensive system: the dugouts, trenches, obser- 
vation posts, pill boxes and abandoned equipment. 
Watch Jerry shoot down one of our observation balloons, 
also witness two airplane battles — the Jerry plane com- 
ing down. 

Sept. 15 — A pitch dark night, smoking forbidden, march- 
ing ten feet apart we move forward to our position in 
the front lines, relieving a regiment of the 5th Division. 
Regimental Headquarters and the first battalion are in 
dugouts in a little valley in the Bois de la Bon Bon — the 
third battalion is forward. We begin at once to estab- 
lish our liaison — by means of the buzzerphone (Lizzie), 
T. P. S., Lucas lamps, radio, telephones and pigeons. By 
the time we have finished our net the Germans have our 
range. Every night he gives us a bombardment and it 
is then our trouble begins for communication must be 
maintained. Lipman is our first casualty, being gassed 
while out repairing a broken line. Then Tracy Taylor 
is shot through the arm. A shell hits the dugout which 
houses the second battalion telephone exchange, wound- 



ing two infantry signalmen. Several raids are made by 
our doughboys and much valuable information and some 
prisoners are taken. Jerry flies over our positions daily, 
giving us beaucoup rifle practice. The cooties and Ger- 
man fleas are bad. Water is almost impossible to get, 
but we salvage enough food to eat. Dysentery hits us 
hard. 

Oct. 1 — Linemen's dugout at Regimental Headquarters 
is hit with a gas shell. Two men slightly gassed. 

Oct. 4 — Our regiment is relieved by a regiment of the 
90th Division. We march all night until 10 a. m. Oct. 
5. Bivouac in the woods, resuming the march at 5 p. m. 
and march until 1 :30 a. m. Roll packs at 7 a. m. and 
march until 10 p. m., when we reach Pierrefitte. Bivouac 
in an open field in a drizzling rain. 

Oct. 7 — Board lorries and ride all day, reaching some 
French barracks, about midway between Clermont-en- 
Argonne and Les Islettes, at 5 p. m. Are quartered in 
the French barracks. Establish telephone communica- 
tion with the colonel, 311th Regiment and the 156th 
Brigade. 

Oct. 10 — Pack up and march through Les Islettes and 
further into the Argonne, from which the First American 
Army is driving Jerry. Make camp at 5 p. m., laying a 
telephone net throughout our regiment and connecting 
regimental headquarters and second battalion with the 
T. P. S. 

Oct. 14 — German mine explodes at 5 a. m., 1000 yards 
from our camp, tearing away whole side of a hill. No 
casualties. Lieutenant Suddath leaves for the U. S. 
A. McCarthy and Lipman are evacuated to hospitals. 

Oct. 15 — A dark, rainy night. W r e move forward into 
the lines and relieve the 77th Division. This outfit had 
no communication forward of regimental headquarters — 
just one line working back to brigade. The 77th was 
supposed to have taken Grandpre, but only one small 
part of the town was occupied by it. 
Oct. 16 — 400 men — infantrymen and machine-gunners — 
caught in artillery and machine-gun barrage while tak- 
ing our position in the front lines. Begin establishing 



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complete liaison throughout our regiment and with the 
311th regiment and brigade using telephones, buzzer- 
phones, Lucas lamps and pigeons. 

Oct. 17-20 — Continual shelling and bombing from Jerry. 
Casualties of our doughboys very heavy. Line mainte- 
nance very difficult, one line to forward battalion being 
shot out seven times in one night. In our entire tele- 
phone system we averaged 15 breaks every night. Jerry 
sends over great quantities of gas — some mustard — but 
mostly phosgene. We have put over two bombardments, 
made several raids and captured nearly two hundred 
prisoners. One infantry signaller wounded by shrapnel. 

Oct. 21 — Gumbrecht and Wiltse wounded. Sixteen sig- 
nallers gassed and evacuated today. 

Oct. 22 — Captain Hughes is killed and Lieutenant Lit- 
tig wounded by shell fragments at regimental headquar- 
ters. 

Oct. 25 — Herlan and Crampton gassed and evacuated. 
Shell hits exchange at railroad station, breaking all lines. 
Communication re-established within 10 minutes. Gal- 
lichio and four infantry signalmen gassed and evacuated. 

Oct. 27 — 312th regiment relieved by 311th regiment. 
312th marches back to Senuc for rest and replacements — 
all but Lauffenburger, Kroencke, O'Kane, Vernon, Watt 
and four infantry signalmen, who stay behind to operate 
the exchange. 

Nov. 1 — 311th takes over our exchange and we move into 
Grandpre. Our artillery puts over a 12-hour barrage on 
Jerry, using 30,000 shells. 312th advances two kilos to 
Bellejoyeuse Ferme. Communication kept up by con- 
tinuing our lines from Grandpre to the new P. C. and 
O. P. Sergeant Kaiser is killed at entrance to new P. C. 
dugout. Our artillery puts over another barrage which 
puts Jerry on the run with the doughboys hot after him. 
We advanced with them stringing wire along the waj^. 
Encounter some machine-gun fire, but the doughboys 
soon flank their positions and we move on again. See 
terrible sights where our artillery has made direct hits 
on German troops and horses. Arrive at Le Mort 
Homme with our line, giving our colonel communication 



back to brigade and division. Sleep in barns and at 
dawn move forward again. Encounter more machine- 
gun nests and some light artillery fire. Arrive at Bric- 
quenay at 11 p. m., where we dispatch two important 
messages by pigeon, back to corps headquarters. Jerry 
shells us here for two hours, after which we again move 
forward. See 5 mines explode on road, which holds us 
back some. Arriving at Germont we are billeted for the 
night in barns. See another air battle, the American 
coming down in flames. Just at dusk 200 Allied bomb- 
ing planes pass overhead, Germany-bound. 

Nov. 4 — Move on, avoiding main roads. See two road 
bridges blown up by German mines. Pass towns of 
Boult, Authe and Belleville. White flags on the church 
steeples of these towns show the artillerymen that 
civilians are living in them. Reach Brieulles-sur-Bar 
at 4 p. m. and are shelled as we enter it. One lieutenant 
killed. Jerry is two hours' march ahead of here. French 
civilians in these towns have been prisoners of war in 
them since 1914. They tell us many strange stories of 
cruel treatment at the hands of the Germans. Our first 
battalion goes forward as far as Petites Armoises, where 
it is again shelled by Jerry. Our regimental, brigade 
and division commanders arrive at Brieulles in auto- 
mobiles and establish their P. C. 

Nov. 5 — Relieved at 2 p. m. by the 42nd Division and 
begin a happy march to the rear for we know we are 
going to have a rest. Pass the 6th, 77th and 82nd Divi- 
sions, which had been in support. Pitch shelter tents in 
large field for the night. 

Nov. 6 — March back over our route of advance through 
Grandpre to Chevieres, where we billet for the night. 

Nov. 7 — March all day in rain. Arrive at dusk at a negro 
labor camp where we billet in dugouts. Participate in 
premature celebration of the end of the war. 

Nov. 8 — March to town of Florent, where we get good 
eats, good champagne, baths and new clothes. 
Nov. 11 — Learn armistice has been signed and that hos- 
tilities are to cease today. March all day, passing through 
St. Meneholde, Dampierre and Nieuville-aux-Bois, where 



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we billet in barns. Operate French telephone exchange, 
holding communication throughout our regiment. 
Nov. 17 — Board train at Vier Lampierre, for a two-day 
ride. 

Nov. 19 — Arrive and detrain, at Les Laumes. March to 
Bussy-le-Grand where we billet in barns. 
Nov. 20 — Operate the French exchanges at Bussy-le- 
Grand and at Les Laumes, also lay a line to our first 
battalion at Chateau Rabutin, making complete com- 
munication throughout our regiment and connecting our 
system with that of the rest of the division. 
Nov. 26 — Lieutenant Clarke is assigned to our platoon. 
First batch of men leave on the regular seven-day leave 
to which each member of the A. E. F. is entitled every 
four months. 

Nov. 28 — All men of the platoon assemble at Bussy-le- 
Grand and are billeted with the regimental headquarters 
section. 

Dec. 1 — We move out of barns into houses. 
Dec. 13 — Platoon rejoins company at Chevigny for first 
time since our separation from it in August. After one 
day of glorious celebration the fourth platoon is re- 
turned to Bussy-le-Grand. 

Dec. 24 — Christmas eve was celebrated by the fourth 
platoon — nuf sed. 

Jan. 1, 1919 — New Year's eve was also celebrated with a 
good feed and plenty of "everything." 
Jan. 27 — The platoon is ordered to join the company 
at its headquarters in Menetoy, Cote D'Or, four 
kilometers from Semur, and we bid good-bye to our 
friends, the doughboys of the fighting 312th. 



Gettin' Camouflaged For the C. O.'s Once-Over 

Scene — A billet in France. 

Time — 7:30 a. m. to 9:00 a. m., Saturday — any Saturday. 

The boys are all very busy dolling up for inspection, some 
are shaving, some are arranging bunks, others are 
occupied in quests for misplaced articles. 

Kenlon (who never puts any water on the stove) : "Whose 
water is this? Can I borrow a little to shave?" 



McMahon (who shaved every day when he operated at 

Bussy-le-Grand, now he shaves every other day — we 

wonder why): "You cannot! What's the matter? 

Are you crippled?" 
O'Kane (who never does anything that he can get out of) : 

"Has anybody seen my slicker?" 
Kenlon: "That's enough, Pawtucket." 
O'Kane: "Whose helmet is this on my bed? Get it out 

of here." 
McMahon : "This blade is a bird. Who has a new blade ?" 
O'Kane: "Now who in the hell took my towel? I wish 

you fellows would stay away from my bunk." 
Vernon: "What's the matter, Jimmie, do you want me 

to help you?" 
O'Kane : "Why don't some of you fellows get wise to 

yourselves? Whose shoes are these under my bunk? 

Get them out. Say, Henry, give me a shoe lace." 
McMahon : "You're out of luck, James." 
Vernon: "Whose dubbin is this?" (It's on the stove.) 
O'Kane : "Where's my knife ?" 
Kessler (who butts in on the stove in the next room) : 

"That's my dubbin. I'm going to put it on my shoes." 
Vernon : "Pardon me, I thought you were going to shave 

with it." 
O'Kane: "How do you fold your blankets?" 
Kenlon : "The same way you did at Dix." 
McMahon : "You can bet your sweet life inspections won't 

bother me when I get out of this man's army." 
O'Kane: "Henry, have you my gun?" 
King (who gets away with anything and everything) : 

"What's the matter, O'Kane, haven't you anything at 

all?" 
Kenlon : "King, give me a match." 
O'Kane: "When you are through, Henry, lend me your 

razor and soap, will you?" 
Vernon: "Who has a cigarette?" 
O'Kane: "Who has my mirror?" 
Kenlon: "Here is the water, James." (It's cold.) 
All together : "There goes the bugle." 
The bunch turns out as if it were going to a funeral. 



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GAS !" Maybe that alarm didn't make us do some tall 
hustling to put it on in six seconds or less when we 
were up the lines. Then, that word meant tear gas, 
chlorine gas — mustard gas. 

Now, with nary a sound of a gun, birds singing in the trees 
and thoughts of going home soon, "gas", as we knew it then, 
exists only in memory. 

But now we have another kind of gas — protection from it 
is obtained by the use of sound-proof ear muffs. We're 
going to put over a gas attack of the present kind (you see, 
we're more merciful than Jerry used to be with us). 
This gas works on the minds of its victims. When it strikes 
a person who has lived through similar experiences, it 
brings back old memories ; when it strikes the folks back 
home, it paints mental pictures of A. E. F. life for them. 
"All ready— Gas !" 



Speaking of Cooties 

California Jackson had twenty-nine big whoppers penned 
up in the face of his watch, and was kicking because it didn't 
keep correct time. These gigantic seam squirrels had 
pushed the minute hand forward an hour with the result 
that Jackson got out of a warm bunk one morning and won- 
dered why the bugler hadn't blown reveille. Guess they 
must have been rather numerous in Jack's bunk, because 
his bunkie, North Dakota Joe, has also made a collection. 
He had a big red one, a yellow one and one with a blue 
back and searched the seams of his undershirt for a green 
one, when this little ditty was being written. He seemed 
anxious to get all the colors of the rainbow or find enough 
to form a patriotically-colored squad. He was advised to wait 
a day or two because yellow mixed with blue makes green. 



Pay 

PAY — What is it? Rather a difficult proposition for a 
soldier, with only twelve months' army experience, to 
explain. Why? Because he has such small quanti- 
ties of it and so very few of those quantities. 
The first pay I remember seeing was after I had served 
three months, signed all the papers in camp, passed about 
six physical examinations, had one tooth pulled, one filled, 
and just been issued a new pair of overshoes. 
That pay looked like the price of a French hair cut — 75 
centimes. I'll never forget that first pay day. The Top 
Kick lined us up and, after keeping us at attention for 
about 37 minutes, announced that we were to be paid. 
Then, after about a 10-minute wait — guess he thought it 
would take about that long for the good news to soak in — 
he explained that pay day was quite an event. He was 
right, too, and as it only happened around every ( ?) months 
we had better look our best which meant shave, haircut, 
teeth cleaned, shoes shined, leggins washed, clothes cleaned 
and pressed and, that day, it included a general policing 
of the ground around the barracks. No need to tell you 
that the boys were all present at that formation. We were 
and right there is where I began being discouraged with 
pay. 

Instead of the paymaster bringing the pay in a truck as I 
expected, he carried it in a very small bag — a very, very 
small one. It was plenty large enough, though, for after de- 
ducting insurance and allotment and pay for a pair of sox 
I had lost he had to have a microscope to find my pay. 
He could have carried enough pay in that bag to have paid 
all the soldiers in the army. 



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The next pay I met was in Sunny France and as I had been 
lucky and had lost nothing the paymaster handed me a few 
francs. Some experience we had with that French money — 
we didn't know the value of it and, worse yet, we couldn't 
make the French people understand that the sooner we got 
it exchanged for wine or something to eat the better we'd 
like it. We were up against it for fair when Maxwell came 
to our rescue. He taught us to say "Vin Blanc" and "Vin 
Rouge," "Du Pain" and "Ouefs." After we learned that, it 
was an easy matter to dispose of the francs ; it wasn't long 
until pay day was only a pleasant memory. 

Maxwell is entitled to special mention also on account of 
his valuable assistance in exchanging our francs for Vin 
Blanc. Pay has almost the same elusive ability as the pot 
of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

It always seems just a short way ahead and we never quite 
reach it. 

There have been times when I thought we would be paid, in 
fact it seemed almost certain we would, but we would get 
orders to roll packs and, instead of pay, we would get a 
60 kilo hike. 

We still have some hope of getting one more pay in France. 
Hope we do, 'cause the francs, although not an absolute 
necessity, are rather handy to have around especially if you 
happen to be thirsty. 

The boys each have their own way of disposing of the 
francs. O'Kane gets a lot of satisfaction out of handing his 
francs to Giggoliotti while Giggie says "Seven or eleven." 
Kingie and I are fond of lightning, the name of our division, 
so our francs go for that. Vernon and Kenlon are always 
talking about the star they bought, think it's Three Star. 
Crampton invests in Du Lay while Yam Peterson says 
"Cookies for me." 

Finn says, "Good old Star chewing tobacco for mine." Ted 
Davis invests in Camels, Al Watt in ink, Sharp, service 
stripes, Iggie Kelly says "Beer and more beer." 



Cooshaying — The Army's Many Ways 
of Doing It 

WHEN the time came for us to leave home for train- 
ing at Ft. Leavenworth we left the nice comforta- 
ble beds, china dishes and white table cloths and 
all the many other comforts of home expecting, on arrival 
at camp, to be introduced to tin dishes, picks and shovels, 
rifles, etc. 

But, by gosh, it wasn't as bad as we thought. We had 
steam-heated barracks, nice cots, soft mattresses, shower 
baths, and ate our meals at big, long tables. The dishes? 
Yes, they were tin, but we didn't have to wash them. We 
just ate off them. The cooks and K. P.s did the rest. 

Well, they then sent us to Camp Dix, N. J. Ah ! but this 
place was different. First place the barracks were wooden, 
there was plenty of mud and we found that we washed 
our own mess kits — or they weren't washed. They also 
had K. P.s here, but we took our turns at it. Army life 
looked a little different. 

After being at Camp Dix awhile we went on a hike to Mt. 
Holly and put up our shelter tents in the pouring rain and 
slept on the wet ground and ate our chow well seasoned 
with half a barrel of rain water. Got up the next morning, 
ate our hard tack, bacon and coffee, and hiked back to Camp 
Dix. Now we are soldiers, thought we ; this is what we ex- 
pected. 

Next came the boat. As soon as we got on we were shoved 
along to our different places on the decks. All we could 
see was a long line of tables with some more of the tin 
dishes. Well, where are we going to sleep? Gee, I don't 
know, perhaps all berths are upstairs. Next thing we heard 
was the command : "All line up facing this way." Which 
was toward the stern of the boat. Then the deck steward 
handed us each a piece of canvas with a rope on each end 
and told us that was what we were to sleep in. "Yes, but 
where do we put them?" Oh, just hook them up on those 
hooks in the ceiling and climb up into them." Right away 
visions of broken necks and falling hammocks loomed up 
mighty large. It was a good acrobat that got into one alone 



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and a wise man that, once he was in, stayed in till morning. 
We got off at Liverpool and slept all night in the side-door 
English train until we reached Dover. Here we were 
dumped into a lot of houses and told to make ourselves 
comfortable. We looked in the cellars, the attics, back 
yards and all over the place trying to find something in the 
line of bunks to sleep on. Well, it finally dawned upon us. 
We got wise that it was the floor we were to sleep on, and 
we did, but gee whiz, it was hard sleeping. Those boards 
wouldn't budge an inch. We had to do all the budging. 
Next place was Calais, France. They had a lot of round 
holes dug in the ground with a lot of sand bags piled up 
around the sides and a tent covered it with the pole in the 
center. They would hold eight comfortably, but they 
crowded 15 and 16 men in each tent. It would be all right 
if you had no legs or feet, but with all having feet, it was 
all wrong. Once you got your feet placed by that pole they 
were just simply lost until all the rest got their feet oft 
and gave you a chance to get up. In case you would like 
to turn over on your other side it was quite simple, you 
would just wake every one else up, then all turn over 
together by the numbers and go back to sleep again. 

Gee whiz, we thought, this is so darn far behind the lines 
and if it is as punk as this, what the dickens must it be like 
up nearer the front. 

Then we were taken to a railroad station where we saw a 
long train of freight cars on the tracks. We hung around 
awhile expecting the freight to pull out and make room 
for our passenger train. We thought, but thought in vain, 
for the next thing we knew we were lined up in front of 
these freight cars and told to hop in. We rode until night 
and landed in a camp near Lart and found it a lot better, 
nice green grass, larger tents and more room for all of us. 
But the next day we were taken to Lart and stuck in barns 
and hencoops ; became associated with all the chickens, cows, 
pigs, who, each morning, from 4:30 on, would treat us 
to the barnyard serenade. We also got the chickens' goats 
by catching chicken lice, nice playful little bed fellows 
(maybe). 



Our next place was Nielles, where we were again stuck into 
barns, still on friendly terms with all the barnyard quar- 
tettes. 

From there we went to Herlin-le-Sec where we put up our 
pup tents among the trees. Every night or two we would be 
treated to an air raid and the first night it happened quite 
a few of the neighbors tried out their gas masks and hel- 
mets. You know — just to see how they would work. 
A little later found us back of the Arras front. Well, there 
were barns to the right and barns to the left. Back to 
mules again for us, so we thought. But we got a surprise 
for there were real bunks there made of boards and chicken 
wire and were real comfortable — the first time we slept in 
bunks since leaving the States. There were some anti air- 
craft guns here and when they sent out a shell these bunks 
would rock like row-boats in a storm. It was good while it 
lasted but it didn't last long, because, as usual, just as we 
were getting used to it we had to move. 
The next place was the territory around Bourbonne-les- 
Bains where we were put into hay lofts for a change. They 
looked as if a hurricane had paid them a visit by the time 
we were ready to leave. 

At our next place we slept on the ground floors in newly 
made Yank barracks. The ground in this part of the coun- 
try is very hard (on us). 

At the next stop we were again treated to a sleep in all of 
the first class Chevaux hotels. Funny thing, the poor ani- 
mals didn't mind our company at all. 

We left Chatenois later and took to a new method of life, 
namely French lorries, 16 men and 2 Indo-Chinese drivers 
to each lorry. We would sit up, smoke and talk until the 
bumping of the lorry over the roads would jar us into 
semi-consciousness, when we would doze a little now and 
again and look at our watches to see what time it was. Five 
minutes was like an hour to us. 

After leaving the lorries, the woods was our next camp. 
From this on until we struck the lines our tents got much 
wear for we would march all night and put up our tents 
and sleep there all day. Just before going into the lines 



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we salvaged all our blankets, tents and all unnecessary 
articles, carrying only a combat pack and our rifles. We 
again camped in the woods with the ground for a bed and 
the sky for a roof — all that we had for cover was what 
we wore and it was always sure to rain — couldn't beat it. 
At the St. Mihiel front we occupied the abandoned German 
dugouts and slept on the floors. They were comfortable 
but not shell proof, but a miss is as good as a mile and 
Jerry missed our dugouts. Thanks, for that little favor, 
Jerry. 

After leaving St. Mihiel we camped in the woods, open 
fields and Chink lorries — any place that we could lay our 
heads down. 

But we had a treat coming and didn't know it, for the next 
place we camped, which was back of Les Islettes, we had 
French barracks with honest to goodness bunks with straw 
mattresses and just to top it off our old friends, the 
cooties, gave us a warm welcome. Oh, yes ! we were by 
this time very well acquainted with the cooties ; too much 
so — they were too affectionate ; couldn't drive them away. 
Once again we took to the fields and woods on our way to 
the Argonne. As usual, it rained. Finally we got into the 
lines and were surprised at what we saw. All about us 
the hills resembled ant hills, with hundreds of little pits 
dug into the sides of them and big enough for one man 
each. These were what we slept in in the Argonne. The 
holes, or dugouts, as we called them, were about three or 
four feet deep and we would stretch a rain coat or shelter 
half over the top and cross some branches over that, just 
leaving an opening large enough for us to crawl into the 
holes. This is what is called digging in. For 21 days 
these dugouts were our homes. When it was quiet the 
fellows would stick their heads out and yell to their next 
neighbor, "bow-wow-wow, come over to my dog house." 
After the drive started we slept and camped in open fields, 
barns and shelled houses. 

On our way back we were friends with nature as we again 
slept in the woods every night till at last we landed near 
St. Meneholde, where we were put into hay lofts. At the 
next stop we had bunks. 



Our next place was in the Semur area. We were billeted in 
empty houses — the same at Menetoy. 

There are but two more ways left for us to camp — in air- 
planes and submarines. 



Guess Little Al Wants to be Comfortable 

Dear Ma: Menetoy, France, March 1, 1919. 

As we are going home soon, I would like you to have 
things ready for me so I will be able to rest with perfect 
comfort and ease and feel at home. 

First of all, take the window shades and curtains down, 
break all the windows and tear all the wall-paper entirely 
off. Next, smash up the bed and throw it out the win- 
dow. Tear the door off its hinges ; take up the carpet 
and throw it down the cellar steps. Rip up every board 
in the floor, replace them with three-cornered stones 
about the size of a cow's head. Now make a lot of arti- 
ficial cobwebs, hanging them about forty-five degrees 
away from the ceilings and corners. Put a barnyard 
carpet about an inch thick on the floor, stick a piece of 
candle about a half inch long in one corner (no matches), 
fill two old burlap bags with wet hay and put them in 
another corner, being careful to place several of the 
large stones under the bags. Drive one large spike into 
the wall to hang my clothing on and put an old rusty 
tin can, a piece of laundry soap, a towel and toilet articles 
(very few) in another corner. Arrange the spout of the 
can directly over the bags (bed) for a shower bath and 
ventilator. Then tie a bundle of twigs together — this is 
the broom. Get a platoon of large rats to run relay races 
from one side of the room to the other and be careful 
to have their route cover the bed above where my head 
will lay. I'll furnish the cooties myself. I'll have 
Brother Bill stand guard over me with a gun, and call 
me each morning at 6 a. m. Fix up my mess hall as 
follows : Get a large quarter of beef (make it look like 
India rubber), hang it in the woodshed in such a manner 
that I can get in or out, dig a small trench for a fire- 
place and have it smoke so as to blind you and bring 
said food out there. Call me for chow at least thirty 



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minutes before it's ready to serve, slam it at me and then 
set a pail of cold water in the barnyard for me to wash 
my mess-kit in. Never put milk or sugar in the coffee 
as it only spoils the flavor ; never call me to any meal ; 
simply blow an old tin horn; always try and burn the 
stew a little. In rainy weather always serve the stew 
out under an old tree. Never cook enough for every one 
and tell the last in line he is S. O. L. (soldiers out of 
luck). Never cut the bread in slices but always in 
three-quarter chunks. Never mind about a place to 
wash in or anything of that sort as I can use the creek. 
Always serve bully beef on holidays. 

By doing these little things you can make me feel right 
to home. Your loving son, 

Little Al. 

Signal Sensations and Experience 

During the abbreviated but eventful trench life of the 
outfit a series of sensations and impressions were re- 
corded by each element partaking thereof. 

The doughboys had just completed a revised edition of 
front-line landscape when we stepped forth from a per- 
fectly sane S. O. S. sector into a seething cauldron of 
violence. 

We had seen a turgid, stormswept sky converted from a 
state of sullen restlessness to a wild, heaving, inferno of 
blinding flame, all in the flicker of an eyelash. We had 
harkened to the accompanying crashing and thumping of 
the war orchestra, and had watched the bobbing phan- 
tasy of shells a'bursting o'er the hazard zone. In the 
aftermath of battle we had gazed upon the stark and 
bluish figure of a fallen Yank, huddled, as he died, clutch- 
ing his shrapneled abdomen as though to staunch the 
oozing life fluid. 

And, as the procession of strifes' grim scenery filed past 
before our bewildered stare, doubt challenged courage, 
dragging our minds a few kilos ahead to destruction's lair. 

And so we went in, ducking and dodging as we pro- 
ceeded, beseiged by all the imps of fright and super- 



stition. The faintest whistle and one was instantly alert. 
The thud of a "dud" and instinct advised a gas watchful- 
ness. One moment one would be a jaunty, carefree, son 
of adventure and, in the next fraction, would cleave to 
the ground like a layer of soil, panting and breathing as 
though he had but recently abandoned some furious 
scuffle. 

Our work commenced. Over imperilled roads and trails 
wire snaked along the surfaces, from one headquarters to 
another, from some desolate, shell-stricken village to 
various underground hideaways far out on the brink of 
Dead Man's Land. 

Communication was imperative at all times and for this 
reason, whether the state of operations be quiet or brist- 
ling, always, after an enemy shell had severed a con- 
nection, plier partners would venture through the dusk 
or daylight to repair the damage. 

With star-shells mingling with the cloud-drifts, air-plane 
finders streaked across the skies, bands of fire a'glaring in 
the distance, and all the world just one incessant uproar, 
the sensation of finding oneself alone in some miserable 
little excavation where one had plunged to escape the 
furies of a shrieking projectile oftimes gave rise to 
thoughts of home and mother, past performances and 
deeds, and, perhaps, a mumbled word of prayer would 
sneak forth from its camouflage of pride. 
On one occasion, an observation post was established on 
a level territory just beyond Thiaucourt for the purpose 
of reporting on the markmanship of the artillery support. 
At the pre-arranged hour the barrage commenced to play 
havoc with the Prussian outposts but the counter-fire 
was equally terrific and it drummed the stretch of land 
confronting the observation station. The huns contin- 
ued to elevate their range until the bombardment as- 
sumed the proportions of a creeping barrage and to the 
S. O. Ls. lying flattened close to the telephone it as- 
sumed the proportions of their anticipated executioner. 
Fragments of shells, and chunks of hardened dirt began 
zipping around and over the procumbent beings. The 
rows of dropping shells were steadily approaching. Hel- 



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mets were being dented. It was damp and clammy but 
an August sun could not have squeezed a drop more per- 
spiration from their bodies than they had already shed. 
By mute consent, they exchanged handclasps. One tried 
to laugh but his effort sounded more like an hysterical sob. 

They had five minutes to remain before the period of 
their attendance would expire. By all appearances, they 
had two minutes to remain before they died. So, they 
split the difference, held out one minute, unhooked the 
telephone, then sped pellmell to protection over entangle- 
ment and ditch, dead man and shell-hole, with a chorus 
of hurtling metal singing wickedly behind them. 

Every choice word in sensation's vocabulary was theirs 
that night and promises to linger until the day of eternal 
forgetfulness. 

Coincident with a doughboy surprise movement a certain 
detachment of signalmen was summoned from its mud- 
holes one night to supply and maintain lines of com- 
munication between the advancing invaders and their 
battalion post of command. 

It was a clear case of "Over the Top" and, in the estima- 
tion of the section, a very appropriate moment to think 
of wills, and tombstones, and obituaries. 

They were waterlogged from continuous exposure to 
weather inclemency. They were ill, and stiff, and weak. 
Their nerves were strained to the breaking point. So 
they damned the army thoroughly and then set forth to 
preserve their "Give 'em hell" ritual. 

Their physical resources had been drained to the low- 
water mark of power but the dregs were endowed with 
an almost supernatural ability and determination to 
achieve and it was prodded to a vigorous action by the 
responsibilities of their duty, the visions of a harrassed 
infantry — the men who daily risked sacrifice — out there 
in the wilderness minus the security of even a single 
binding link. 

So they made their grail at the telephone the stopping place, 
and, tagging on the heels of the doughboys, stepped off, 
unwinding reel after reel of wire as they trudged along. 



The storming contingent was spotted. Fireworks were 
unleased. Machine-gun traffic swished and lashed over 
their heads. Sometimes a toll, an odd little gasp and a 
contorted shape sinking to the ground. Bedlam all 
around. A flurry of whizbangs exploding nearby, rocking 
the earth with detonation. Far off, the bass barking of 
the heavies as they launched their cased volcanos. Then 
the steady, rhythmic, whurring of some prowler of the 
sky. The doughboys continued to swarm ahead. Their 
means of communication continued to follow. 

Gradually the put-put-put and spit of the machine guns 
lessened in volume. They were rapidly being incapaci- 
tated which meant that the dead line had been passed. 
The boys were going through. The belief was con- 
firmed by the appearance of a brief array of scarred and 
scared Heinies doing a "To the Rear," chaperoned by a 
gentleman in muddy O. D. who commanded a bayonet 
with remarkable persuasiveness. 

The Jerries had constructed some fairly good trenches at 
this point and since a stiff shell-resistance was being 
encountered a halt was called, the objective gained. The 
telephone was connected and, miraculous of all facts, 
the line was intact, for they were able to exchange mes- 
sages without hindrance. Then in the lull of after-battle 
the boys began to think, to realize that they had paced 
the fields of dread, "where angels fear to tread." They 
had upheld their organization and though it had cost 
them all the agonies of weariness, though they had brow- 
beat their bodies to the final push of energy, there was 
something glorious in the accomplishment of going "over 
the top" with a reel of wire that made their fingers itch 
for a pencil to tell it all to the folks back home. 

A million and one incidents stepped unheralded into our 
histories. The majority of us had, at times, burned mid- 
night oil to follow some Daredevil Dick's flirtations with 
dark and dreary death, and had been thrilled to the bone 
when he had, singlehanded, rescued the heroine heiress 
from the ruffian's rendezvous. 

But here was something that outclassed even the most 
imaginative writer's imagination. Here was the real 



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thing, the pinnacle of adventure, of sacrifice, of fate and 
chance and destiny. It was here that even the bravest 
were afraid and few hesitated to confess the fact. 
The idea of a real, tried, true and reliable American soldat 
making a bee-line for a petite bramble bush for protection 
against an incoming H. E. was about as sensible an ac- 
tion as that of a whole regiment diving into their pup- 
tents when a Jerry bomber menaced the area. 
Yet they all did it, weak and strong alike, from General 
down to buck. One excited Yank sought refuge from 
heavy shelling in an old, supposedly-deserted, shack. After 
the state of affairs had eased up, he discovered that he had 
been sheltered in an ammunition storeroom. 
On their initial excursion to a forward position an entire 
telephone section isolated themselves from their head- 
quarters by wandering far out ahead of the doughboys 
in search of a suitable dugout. Needless to say they did 
not linger long when they discovered their error. 
Inspired by an alarming shriek, a pair of cooks appar- 
ently found comfort and safety under a table where they 
had flung their quivering bodies. 

Then, there was the face-to-face tension between a line- 
man and a hiding enemy. And, because the encounter 
bore every indication of an America versus Germany 
repetition, and because he was painfully familiar with 
Yankee tactics, the Hun wisely capitulated. 
"Stand to" meant the severest of mental ordeals, a sneaky 
hunch that the Prussians had pierced the outer defenses 
and were weaving a network of invaders around one's 
dugout. It meant watchful waiting, occasional doubts 
concerning the powers of one's own fighting forces, and 
repeated pondering on the vital subjects of bayonet drill 
and prison camps. 

And so it went on. Each day a fresh experience, a weird, 
curdling tale, a humorous happening, or a depressing 
note of pathos. 

But we were toil-worn, tired of perpetual wire-lugging, 
tired of being aroused from our slumbers in the wee 
small hours to resurrect a dead line or to figure in some 
sudden scheme against the boche. 



We were calloused from hardship, numbed by exposure, 
weakened by lack of nourishment when, out of the din 
and turmoil, came the first reports of an armistice. Un- 
believing, we watched the spectacle of a thousand daz- 
zling pyrotechnics illuminating the heavens, and listened 
to the salvos of pistol fire and the glad bellowing of a 
rejoicing throng. 

The world was topsy-turvy and the spirit of the era of 
celebration begged tumult from our throats. 

The crowning sensation to all those inner feelings and 
convictions that we had nurtured under stress coursed 
through our veins. 

The nightmare was over. Our dreams were coming true. 

Relaxed and readjusted to circumstances we turned our 
faces southward, away from that barren bed of brutality 
in quest of a more fascinating field of endeavor, in a 
more fascinating land where the inhabitants would un- 
derstand and all the walks were paved with happiness 
and delight. 



This One Wasn't Addressed to Bill, Tho 

Ye raymembr whin we're at Chevieres or some sich place 
with the divil's own name. We're all sittin' out enjyin' the 
sunshine fer it's seldom do we git the chanct fer the Dutch 
divil across the way. Well, as I wuz afther sayin', shure 
here's Bill Loftus as big as loife on the front door-step of 
his dugout, schmokin' away like a amminition dump on fire. 
Awl of a sudden the Dutchmin lands a shell across the road 
and shure we awl made a dig fer the holes. Bill is jist 
afther gettin' on his hands and knees, fer he couldn't get in 
his palace any other way. As I wuz sayin' — he jist gits 
that way — when a piece of sthone, of somethin' it was, shot 
Bill in the seat of his pants, and Bill went in the bivvy some 
fast. I'd be supposin' that Bill thought sure he was shot 
through the heart fer it didn't take much to scare a man 
thim days. 



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The Capture of Grand Pre 

You've read with avid interest and perhaps a thrill or two, 
How those hell-fer-fightin' Yankees bade the fleeing hun 

adieu, 
In their final come-together — near the Village of Grand Pre. 
And you couldn't help rejoicing when you heard the news 

that day. 

But upon investigation, we find there's still some doubt 

As to who it was that took the town and drove the Ger- 
mans out. 

The Seventy-seventh Division, from Camp Upton, may tell 
you 

That their lads performed the job. We'll show this can't 
be true. 

The facts about this matter — which will prove without 

mistake — 
Upon whose head the glory rests — we now will undertake 
To place before a listening world, confident that you 
Will justly judge and freely praise where praise is really 

due. 

On the morning of November first, the year nineteen- 

eighteen, 
The Yankee boys had struck a snag, machine-gun nests 

unseen. 
Were spitting right into their ranks. Their comrades one 

by one 
Were slowly carried to the rear. Yes, something must be 

done ! 

'Twas then our hero, James O'Kane, of the fighting fourth 

platoon, 
Decided it was up to him to end this slaughter soon. 
Although he was a private, he knew that work like this 
Is always left up to the bucks. Such jobs they never miss. 

For fourteen days without his grub — except for a small lot 
Of chocolate from division, brought up there by Al Watt — 



(I quote his words) he chanced his life, his duty must be 

done. 
He knew that little Rhodey must be protected from the hun ! 

So, ere the day had broken, with its secret-piercing dawn, 
Private O'Kane crept forward through no-man's-land that 

morn. 
He crept, he squirmed, he rolled, he crawled until he had 

come close 
Enough to slip this info to the German advance post. 

"Say, hun, now let me tip you off, before it is too late. 
That fourth platoon of the three-o-three you're bucking at 

this date 
Is led by Teddy Davis, the fighting M. S. E. — 
You'd better kinda start for home while there is time — 

Compree ? 

"At present he's not feeling good and likely to get mad 
And if he does, he's sure to use you German boys real bad. 
And many a fraulein waiting for a late-lamented Boche 
Will realize he kinda beats that famous general — Foch." 

So when the Jerries heard this, they all started on a run 
And no one seemed quite anxious to take along his gun. 
They just headed toward the eastward — every one was 

traveling light 
And the way they covered ground, they must have reached 

China that night. 

Then the 312th Infantry advanced and occupied Grand Pre. 
There wasn't any fighting, that is quite needless to say. 
And the war-news correspondents, arriving three days late, 
Reported, "Grand Pre taken. Everything O. K. to date." 

Now that the war is over and we've quit the battle's strife, 
Corporal O'Kane is leading a quiet, soldier life. 
And when not ducking reveille, our hero, cool and calm, 
Is chasing up for seconds. Yes, there's two stripes on 
his arm ! 



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A Few Impressions of Rural France 

IN the days of watchful waiting, who among us had 
not pictured a country of imposing chateaux and pic- 
turesque farmhouses, where the cows were attended 
by musical comedy maids in glistening silken hose and 
high-heeled shoes ; where the natives were a volatile, 
pleasure-loving lot who spent their leisure time in gay 
folk dances or, seated about the tables of an out-door 
cafe, sipped the delicate wines which could be had so 
cheaply; where bread, milk, eggs and cheese could be 
had almost for the asking, from the generous, open- 
hearted natives ; a land where one could wander through 
the vineyards and eat his fill of luscious grapes, the 
wondrous product of many centuries cultivation? 

Fate having allowed us to survive the submarine, the 
rest camps, and the French transportation, we were in 
due time allowed to view this rustic paradise. The thrill 
of viewing a real chateau at long range even though on 
closer inspection the roof is found to be in a bad state 
of repair and the whole ensemble appears slightly run 
down at the heels. The large iron-gated farmyards, a 
playground for a motley collection of chickens, geese, 
ducks — and before the large American transfer of francs 
at Thanksgiving time — turkeys. 

It is a pleasure to see the friendly relations existing be- 
tween the farmer and his feathered possessions. No 
meal would seem complete without at least half a dozen 
chickens strolling about the kitchen floor. 
It is difficult for the average soldier to acquire some of 
the niceties of table etiquette practiced by the French 
farmer. Among these are the easy manner in holding 
a loaf of bread against one's chest and whittling off chips 
as wanted; and the deft flipping of inedible bits of food 
to the floor, and, despite our mess-hall training we cannot at- 
tain the same Wagnerian effects with a bowl of soup. 

The barrier of language has prevented our finding the 
reason for invariably placing a large manure pile, close 
to, and in full view of the front door. Perhaps a man's 
prosperity is judged by the size of the heap, or it may 
be an esteemed form of scenic beauty. The frank, sim- 



ple, sanitary arrangements are also a bit of a shock, 
when first encountered. 

The sabots worn by all the natives are no doubt a neces- 
sity due to road conditions. A pair of these miniature 
arks would serve very nicely as a one-man catamaran 
in an emergency. 

A touch of romance is added to the picture by the sight 
of a chic, but somewhat broad-shouldered and thick- 
waisted Amazon tripping lightly down the road, the 
heroic footwear being suspended from ankles modeled 
in exact proportions. She may be propelling a wheel- 
barrow loaded in violation of all good union principles 
or perhaps she is attending to the family's heavy truck- 
ing, all under the direction of a sturdy male enjoying a 
cigarette. 

A search for eggs leads one to believe that the hens are 
far in advance of the humans in the very low and declin- 
ing birth rate of this land, while the price fosters the 
idea that les oeufs are made of a substance rare and 
precious. The hills are covered with vineyards and the 
vines are heavily laden with grapes, which, a G. O. 
informs us, are not to be taken but must be purchased, 
this usually at a very modest price of from one franc up 
per pound. 

The condition of the wells and the total abstinence of the 
French in regard to water, leads the involuntary resident 
to experiment with the wines. A few experiences with 
the acid and astringent twins, Vin Rouge and Vin Blanc, 
almost forces one to take the cause of prohibition to his 
breast and the disturbing after-effects cause a profound 
respect for the native constitutions which can imbibe 
these beverages habitually. 

A wonderful country it is, which has fortified against all 
argument, the belief generally held by Americans that 
there is no place like home in the U. S. A. 



Compree, Jim? 

Gigliotti : O'Kane, youa goa Lay Loam ? 

Jimmy: Sure, John. 

Gigliotti : Youa getta me some kicki tread ? 



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Rumors 

IT sure makes you smile, when you think of the pile of 
rumors that man can conjure. There's Davis, O'Kane 
and Harrisburg Lane— chief victims of tattler's lure. 
They'll hold a debate, pick a place and a date — then tell 
you they know it is sure. They are birds of a kind, but 
behind them you'll find the balance of Company C. Even 
now you will hear, passing from ear to ear, the day that 
we're going to sea. 

For three months or more we tried semaphore, wig-wag, 
buzzer and code. And they hiked us galore 'til our feet 
were sore from pounding the endless road. But there 
wasn't no hitchin' 'bout gainin' condition, 'cause absence 
without meant three weeks in the kitchen. And with pans 
soiled and large, and Kahaly in charge, it sure had one's 
temper a-itchin' an' itchin'. 

Now each night about ten a gang of the men would visit a 
favorite shack to swap late reports and tales of all sorts 
and figure out just when we'd pack. Enter Ted Davis ! Oh, 
somebody save us ! For Ted's got a rumor to tell. He's 
commencin' his tale — he knows when we sail — so we yell, 
"Very well— go to hell." 

But at last it came true, as few rumors do. We were 
ordered over the foam. So we crated our stuff — though we 
thought it a bluff — and we smuggled our farewells home. 
Then came the trip to that gallant ship, Toloa, accurs'd of 
the deep. We rambled aboard, a restless horde, but the 
smell soon put us to sleep. Rumors there — most every- 
where — floating in the brine. A submarine! An airship 
seen ! We've just missed a mine ! Poisoned food ! The 
captain's stewed ! Wear masks, is the new rule ! — all 
throughout that treacherous route — up to Liverpool. 
Then for a while we traversed the Isle of Britain — over to 
Dover. A stay of a day, then across to Calais while estab- 
lishing fame as a rover. 

Here, a shriek and a boom a-piercing the gloom, gave rise 
to the rumor of death. And the Chinks sheltered near 
would raise bedlam, in fear, and catch their Mongolian 
breath. Here, our first training task was to master the 



mask — designed to frustrate gasses dread. If on the sixth 
second, it was on, you were reckoned alive, and if not, you 
were dead. 

At Lart we had rumors — the biggest were bloomers — and 
they traveled like fire, group to group. Now, it isn't no 
fake, and it wasn't no steak, that we had for each chow — 
it was soup. 

In the region of Arras we heard strange things of Paris; 
of air bombs and captures and spies. And Edison's gas 
had at last come to pass and had taken the huns by sur- 
prise. 

At Bourbonne we found that Yank fortune had frowned — 
that the Boche was beating us back. And the following 
day, news the other way, threw our dopesters off of the 
track. 

True to ominous signs, we entered the lines — in time for the 
drive at St. Mihiel. And whenever a chance, a wild rumor 
would dance forth from one's fancy and oddly appeal. 
A barrage tonight! There's peace in sight! The general 
is coming to town ! The kaiser's killed ! His blood was 
spilled, when an air bomb knocked him down! Austria's 
through ! Germany, too ! Turkey has come on our side ! 
Our colonel is humming "I wonder where I can hide." 

Wilson is dead! The crown prince has fled! The Toloa 
was sunk last week ! And we all believed, when we were 
relieved, that the Prussian no more we'd seek. 
But we went in again, at the Argonne then, and battled 
for days and days. And when we came out and heard many 
a shout we thought 'twas the rumor craze. But 'twas true, 
so we knew that our work was through and was toot sweet 
finis France. For we'd done our bit and the hun had quit. 
Say, boy, we were in a trance ! 

Now please be assured that our outfit is cured of falling for 
rumors and lies. By the way, have you heard ? Oh, boy ! 
It's a bird ! I got it from one of those telephone guys. 
We're sailing in May ! I'm wise to the day, but won't tell 
it for fear you will spread it. And we're goin' to be paid 
on the day we parade — Pershing said it — so, boy, gimme 
credit ! 



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Our Vaudeville Troupe 

ONCE upon a time at Camp Dix there was a quarantine. 
Orders read "that no man leave the barracks without 
permission." Woe betide the man who dared break 
this ruling. Those weary days penned in with nothing to 
do but play checkers and penny-ante became a bore. Then 
suddenly someone suggested a musical evening and the Y. 
man from hut No. 2 invited us to come and spend an 
evening there. The next thing was to find talent to make 
up a program. Our top-sergeant, at that time being Dudley 
Merrill, lost no time in getting up a topnotch vaudeville bill. 
We marched over to hut No. 2 and were surprised. Boxing 
bouts, monologs, songs, violin solos, recitations and stunts 
on the piano provided a delightful evening. The next thing 
was the getting together a battalion show to play at the 
Liberty Theatre. Company C was well represented on this 
occasion, and from reports received was one of the best 
shows at any time given at the theatre. At a little later 
date orders were received to go overseas and on the ship 
Toloa the boys helped to cheer many a long evening with 
their music. After the armistice was signed, division head- 
quarters started to arrange amusement for the entire A. E. 
F. The amusement officer immediately put the 303rd Field 
Signal Battalion on the chart, having in mind the quality 
and ability of the entertainers. The result being sixty per- 
formances to its credit. They played Semur four times 
and were well represented at the special performance given 
for General Pershing. After playing four days for the 
first army corps at Tonnerre, the following telegram was 
received : 

303rd Field Signal Battalion show a big 
hit. Good, clean-cut show. Congratula- 
tions of commanding general and myself. 
Conduct of troupe both from military and 
theatrical standpoint excellent. Thanks 
for sending them here. 
(Signed) Lieutenant-Colonel Nelly. 

This telegram voices the sentiment of those who have 
witnessed their efforts. They were invariably asked to 
"come again," which alone proves their popularity. 



On the joyful homeward-bound trip aboard the Re d'ltalia 
the evenings were given over to songs and musical selec- 
tions. Our vaudeville troupe again to the fore. It's little 
the 303rd cannot do — fight or sing — well, it's immaterial. 



Jake and the Two Duds 

Sam Jacobson — Jake — had been sent up to regimental head- 
quarters from battalion headquarters, and the boys at bat- 
talion were counting the minutes he had been gone and 
were speculating as to the probable time he would return. 
They were interested in Jake's early return for he had gone 
for the MAIL! When all of a sudden, Jake rushed into 
the dugout, threw down the mail sack, while he breathlessly 
unburdened himself : 

"Harmon, Harmon, I vant to dell you, Harmon. Oy, I got 
such a fright ! I'm comink for the mail ven I hear a vhizz 
and a thud. I give a look and right at my feet, oy, so close 
at my feet, it landed. I kent help it, my shakink. I go a 
little further and I hear it another vun. Oy, Harmon, two 
of 'em — both duds— right at my feet. Ain't I lucky? I 
ain't kiddink you, Harmon. I'm tellin you. If you don't 
believe me, Harmon, I'll show you right vare dey are. Oy, 
such a scare !" 



At the Mess Tent in Nielles-Les-Blequin 

Corporal of the Guard (Cross) : "Guard, the O. D. orders 

fixed bayonets tonight." 
Guard (Douglas) : "I hate to stick this bayonet up in front 

of one of the boys, but what else can I do?" 
Corporal of the Guard : "Oh, just shift your bolt — that will 

wake them up." 
A man saunters towards the mess tent. 
Guard: "Halt! Who's there?" 
The man: "Who's wants to know?" 
Guard: "Halt!" 
The man : " 'at's sail sright." 
The guard shifts the bolt of his rifle. 
The man clicks his heels together, comes to attention, and 

says, "Yes, sir, Private Lane." 



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When That Bugle Blows for Chow 

When that bugler blows for reveille 

How you cuddle up in bed ; 
You pull your blankets higher, 

And you wish that he was dead. 
All day you hearken to his calls : 

Drill, retreat and taps. 
You wonder how such music 

Ever could please army chaps. 
For when he blows you've got to ramble, 

Fall out quick, and look just so. 
Can you help but hate like thunder 

To hear the bugler's bugle blow? 
Just one call in all his buglin' 

Do we like, and this is how 
All the Yanks act on the moment 

When the bugler blows for chow: 

You are settin' in your billet 

And your belly feels so thin, 
After drillin' hard all mornin', 

That you feel like cashin' in. 
There ! The bugler's blowin' chow call — 

You could bless the day he's born! 
'N' while you're runnin' for your mess kit 

This is how he blows his horn: 
"Soupee, soupee, soupee, 'thout a single bean- 
Porkie, porkie, porkie, 'thout a strip of lean — 
Coffee, coffee, coffee, 'thout a bit of cream." 

Now that's the end of chow call. 
But say, boy, it's a dream! 

You fall in line — it's raining — 

But somehow you don't care, 
The kitchen's just up yonder, 

'Twon't be long till you are there. 
Step by step you get up closer 

Till you can get where you can see 
The fiendish look on all the faces 

Of the men that do K. P. 



"Pomme de Terres," they call potatoes- 
One of these and a pan of stew 

A piece of bread and a cup of coffee — 
That is all they give to ypu. 

Sometimes "seconds" are in season ; 
If they are, you'll always see 

Every signal man is eating 
"Seconds" in the 3—0—3. 



Detail Duckers 

On the rooftops they lay, flattened, 

Playing possum in the sun, 
Praying for some happy Godsend 

To relieve them, duties done. 
Some are hiding in the hallways, 

Others crouch beneath their cots, 
In the canteen there are, always, 

Beaucoup soldats hatching plots. 
Some are overalled to disguise, 

Some walk post with two-by-fours, 
And a bunch on illness relies 

To excuse them from their chores. 
There are those too weak to shovel, 

And, who cannot use a rake. 
On their knees they fairly grovel 

To convince it's not a fake. 
And the topkick sure is raving 

'Cause the bucks have disappeared, 
And the non-coms are behaving 

Like a gang whose cinch is queered. 
But, when recall's air is blowing, 

And the time for toil is o'er, 
Then the absentees are flowing 

Towards the barracks' unscrubbed door. 



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Fall Out and Make Yourselves Comfortable 

SOUNDS good, doesn't it? According to Hoyle, cig- 
arettes and a highball should be issued with this 
command. Picture a beautiful spring day, sun shin- 
in' an' all. C Comp'ny of the Three O Three is marchin' 
along a dusty Jersey road bordered on both sides by 
regular green fields with here and there an honest-to- 
goodness shade-tree makin' a nice cool spot where a 
feller could laze around, smokin' a pill and thinkin' about 
that little gal back in Hackensack. Gosh, but that pack 
is gettin' heavy. I wonder if that guy in the back is 
ridin' on it. I guess I'll have a drink. Wow ! the can- 
teen is empty. Gee, ain't the cappin ever goin' to stop 
and call a halt? I gotta blister on the off hind foot. Gosh 
that pack's heavy. What's that? Halt? Fall out and 
make yourselves comfortable ! Bet chu I will. Looka 
the farm house. I wonder if she's got any water. Gimme 
a drink, lady? Thanks. Oh, boy, that's good. Now for 
a smoke under that big tree. Oh, hell, the army ain't 
so darned bad. 

But, there's another picture on t'other side. There's a 
road in France. What time is it, Buck? Must be darn 
near one o'clock, ain't it? Holy smoke! but that pack is 
heavy. Someone musta put some bricks in it. An' there 
ain't no water in the canteen. Gosh I'm tired. Hope 
the cappin stops soon. One, two, three, four; one, two, 
Lord, but I'm thirsty, three, four. My feet are all blis- 
tered. One, two, three I wanta drink. Gosh, but it's 
rainin' hard, four, one, two, hang it, I nearly fell over 
that blanked pile of stone. Why the deuce do the frogs 
dump the Irish confetti right where a feller can fall over 
it? Lord, but it's dark. I can't see the side of the road, 
three, four. Wonder who that was layin' on the side of 
the road. One, two, three — What d'ye say, Buck, is the 
guy that's leadin' ridin' a horse? Gosh, that must be a 
darned good horse, one, two. Ain't we ever gonna 
stop? Three, four, one, two. Man, I'm thirsty, three, 
four. There's more fellers layin' on the side of the road. 
One, two, Gosh, this is killin'. What's that? Halt? 
Yeh, and right in a mud puddle. Huh, fall out and make 
yourselves comfortable? Who's the comedian? Gosh, 



he's funny. What's he doin' — kiddin' us? Oh, boy, it's 
muddy, but I gotta sit down — I gotta lie down, toot 
sweet. Wow, that water's cold on your back. Wish I 
had a drink. I wanta smoke but they won't let us. 
"Make yourself comfortable"— GOOD NIGHT! 



Mud 

A MIXTURE of honest, French terra firma and 
beaucoup H 2 0, kneaded by the hobnailed dogs of 
the many doughboys of the A. E. F. That is a 
definition never used by Webster, but nevertheless is a 
true description of French landscape, otherwise known 
as "that damn mud." The word "mud" when reviewed 
by a gentleman sitting back in his Morris chair with 
cigarettes and a case of Cologne nearby and a "Bon" 
fire burning in the open fireplace, brings back memories 
of his younger days — the good old days when he and 
little six-year-old Mary used to go out in the barnyard 
and make mudpies. With a far-away look in his eyes, 
he remembers how, when the beautiful pies were finished 
and drying in the warm sun, he used to throw them 
against the barn, bringing down the righteous wrath of 
his father. And, then, the unpleasant half hour in the 
woodshed. Yes, most certainly, "them WAS the good, 
old days." But the word "Mud" to the doughboy is like 
a red flag to a bull, like the smell of blood to the man- 
eating 'tiger. Have you ever walked along a road in 
sunny France at midnight, with someone working over- 
time on the rain pump? Did you ever take a stroll with 
a 150-pound pack on your back and 10-pound gun on 
your shoulder, with the mud so deep that it tickles that 
dimpled knee of yours and when you tried to lift a foot 
it seemed as if there was a strong magnet holding it 
down and, when it did give way, it sounded like a lover's 
goodnight kiss? You have? Well, then, shake pal. 
I remember reading in my English history one day in 
that dim past before the war about Sir Walter Raleigh 
receiving the D. S. C. or the Croix de Guerre, or some- 
thing, because he laid his cloak in front of one of those 
English queens so she wouldn't get her dancing pumps 



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muddy. It is an almighty good thing that Walt didn't 
live in France. Why, it would take a whole Q. M. sup- 
ply house full of O. D. blankets to cover one of these 
French mud puddles and then it would be better for the 
queen if she wore rubbers. "Oh, France, thy name is 
Mud." ■ 

It Always Happens 

"Fall out for ten minutes" — and nine chances out of ten 
it's at one of the many small cross-roads somewhere in 
France, on a dark, rainy night. The company halts and the 
usual map-consultation at the head of the column follows 
and after a hot argument as to which road should be taken, 
we commence the dreary march again. About that time, 
some one at the rear of the column sings, "Cheer up, boys, 
from now on we're lost." We would probably drag along 
for another five or six hours, stopping at every wagon- 
track that crossed the road to consult the maps — and, in the 
mornin' find that we had hiked unnecessarily only about 
ten miles ! Boys, oh, boys ! It's a great life if you don't 
weaken ! 

Compree? 

THE O P line was dis. I followed it right up to the 
O P and repaired it where a 77 had made a D H on 
it. I returned to the P C and found it all mussed up. 
Jerry had landed a G I close by and K'd O three runners 
and an N C O. The C O had an important message for 
1st Bn Hq and so he P T B with an "allez toute suite." It was 
dark when I reached the Bn P C and delivered my O F M. 
I was just ready to start on my return trip when Jerry 
showered the place with gas and H E. After masks were 
adjusted, someone gurgled in my ear that he was making 
a counter-attack. I looked towards the lines, and — sure 
enough — we were sending up S O S's for the Art, which 
immediately responded with 75's. After a bit the hubbub 
relaxed and I started back. I made directly for the F K 
but there I found another tragedy ! A 210 had struck the 
G S wagon, killed the big, black horse, blowed up the slum, 
and shell-shocked an M P. The mess sergeant, K. P's and 
cooks had vanished. I gathered up some O D blankets and 
crawled under a limber, tired, hungry and SOL. 



EXPECTED 
'EM 

conriE sA 




FOUND 
EM 

conriESA 



Mail 

Man, take off your hat when you hear that word spoken! 
Why, even back in Dix, that little, old, pigeon-holed soap 
box built over by Ted Davis for a mail box, influenced our 
lives. We would walk up, take the letters out of the Xs 
and look through them. If we got a letter we could do a 
day's K. P. with a grin, we could laugh at fatigue, and we 
could even eat Kahaly's slum. And then we came over 
here and for nearly three weeks we didn't receive any mail. 
Man, it was tough. Hiking or out in the fields with the 
lights — no interest. But then one day along came the mail. 
There was more laughter in Company C that night than 
there would have been if it was pay, instead of mail, that 
was handed out. Up at the front, Jerry's shells did'nt hit' 
quite so hard and the cooties didn't gambol quite so freely 
when we received mail. Now the war is over and we are 
hid away in a little, one-cylinder town known as Menetoy, 
waiting for our turn to use a west-bound ship for a week. 
It's hard work, this waiting. It seems as if we'd been for- 
gotten. But when your bunkie says, "Hey, Buck, here's 
a letter for you." Oh, boy, you feel like kissing him. If 
anyone ever asks you who won the war, don't hesitate, just 
say, "Uncle Sam won it and the mail helped him." 



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Air Raids' 

THE first taste of war that the American soldier got 
upon landing in France was usually an air-raid. 
Jerry delighted in dropping his bombs on the cities 
and training camps in the rear, to bring war to our boys 
soon after they landed and shake their nerve, perhaps. We 
were no exception to that rule and, soon after landing, were 
encamped near Calais, to which Jerry airplanes paid special 
attention. 

At night, about dusk, the sky was swept with big search- 
lights trying to spot airplanes. It was a great sight to see 
the beams of light criss-cross in the sky. Suddenly the 
lights would go out and all would be quiet and peaceful. 
Soon after dark a faint hum would be heard in the distance, 
gradually growing louder. 

"Jerry over head, lights out," cried the Tommies stationed 
there, and all the lights would disappear as suddenly as if 
some one had turned off a series of electric lights with one 
switch. Then the crowd would get outside in time to see 
the searchlights come to life again and throw their beams 
skyward, searching for the source of that throbbing sound 
peculiar to German airplanes. 

The ability to tell an enemy airplane from an allied one was 
claimed by many, but was always the source of an argu- 
ment. After a while we could recognize a friend from a foe 
very quickly. One way was by the sound made by the 
engine, the German machine making a throbbing sound 
different from the allied machines. 

Suddenly two beams of light would be crossed and at the 
junction could be seen a silvery speck which was recognized 
as an airplane high in the air. 

"There he is," shouted some one and, as he spoke, the 
anti-aircraft battery opened up and the shells could be seen 
bursting around the unwelcome visitor. Suddenly he 
dropped from sight. 
"They've got him.' 
"No, he just got out of the light." 
"There, he fell that time." 
Such were the excited remarks made by the spectators, but 



the enemy aviator had only dropped down a short distance 
to get out of the lights that made him so conspicuous. Soon 
the lights found him again in a different location, and 
once more he was surrounded by bursting shells. 

Suddenly another plane, flying low and escaping observa- 
tion, dropped a flare lighting up the ground as bright as day 
and then followed it with two or three bombs which made 
a tremendous explosion. Standing in that bright light 
every man felt as if he was the particular target the bombs 
were aimed at and with one accord all sought shelter. 
There was a sudden rattle of tin helmets as our brave lads 
tried to camouflage themselves under the doubtful shelter 
and one well-known member of the company got badly 
damaged in trying to get over a barbed-wire fence in double 
time. Another six-footer crawled from under a wagon 
some time later with the remark that he had hardly had 
time to get that much shelter. Others felt perfectly safe 
in their little shelter tents, regardless of the fact that they 
offered protection from sun only. 

About this time some of the boys decided to have some fun 
at the expense of some Chinese coolies camped near us. 
That night when Jerry paid us his usual visit they sent over 
a barrage of tin cans, which, falling on the corrugated 
sheets covering the Chink huts, caused a stampede of flying 
pigtails in various stages of dress and undress, but the only 
explosions caused by the "bombs" were the explosions of 
Chinese language, which, happily, no one could understand. 
After leaving Calais our next experience with enemy bomb- 
ing planes was at Herlin-le-Sec. Arriving there at night 
we pitched tents in an open field, but the next day when 
enemy planes began flying overhead, it was deemed advis- 
able to move our camp under some nearby trees where it 
would be invisible to the aviators. For the same reason 
strict orders were given to avoid making paths across the 
open fields. In spite of all the precautions our division 
headquarters and the nearby town of St. Pol were bombed 
frequently. 

On one of those occasions the enemy was forced to make 
a hasty retreat and in order to lighten his machine he 
dropped three bombs in quick succession in a neighboring 



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field. The only casualty was a peaceful cow belonging to a 
French farmer, but after seeing the size of the holes made 
in the ground, we all had a greater respect for bombs. Dur- 
ing those times pieces of the shells that were bursting in the 
air would often fall in our camp, but without thinking of 
any danger, the whole company would stand with upturned 
faces watching the drama in the sky, and it was more thrill- 
ing than any five-reel feature. 

After leaving that area, in our tour of France, we were not 
bothered with bombs for some time, when suddenly one 
night, while camping in the open with lights and fires burn- 
ing cheerfully, we heard the loud, deep-toned explosion 
of bombs and everybody got busy extinguishing lights and 
fires. Little damage was done but that ended the campfires 
for the rest of the war. 

On November 7 some troops camped near us at Varennes 
received news that the armistice had been signed and they 
proceeded to celebrate in a manner similar to an old-fash- 
ioned Fourth of July celebration, but when they started our 
first thoughts were that our old friends, the bombing planes, 
had found us again. When the truth became known, it 
brought great relief. 

There is always a dread of being bombed by airplanes be- 
cause of the helpless position you are in. The only pro- 
tection is a good dugout, but they are not always to be found, 
so the only thing to do is to hope for the best and then trust 

to luck. 

Poor Jake 
The boys, seated around the fireplace as usual, were ex- 
changing rumors picked up during the day's travels. Sud- 
denly, in rushed Jake, commonly known as Raab Schmulik. 
Pale, out of breath and excited, he related a terrible tale. 
He had been at the Y. where he had picked up a Chicago 
newspaper, and looking over the casualty list, found his own 
name ! There it was, staring him in the face : 
Samuel Jacobson 
2527 West Division Street, Chicago 
KILLED IN ACTION 
Well, we had an awful time to convince the poor fellow 
that he was really alive. His buddy, Sol Fersky, suggested 
that he cable home and ascertain the truth. 



As Walt Mason Would Say It 

WE'VE learned a lot of things, you know, when 
half way 'round the world we'd go to get into a 
bloody fight to show the Huns that we were 
right. The knocks we got were mighty tough, but we 
were made of the proper stuff, and looked upon them 
with a grin — then placed our goal right in Berlin ! 'Twas 
many kilos we did go before we struck the vital blow, 
that knocked Fritz from his Grand-Pre stand for forty 
knots, back towards Sedan. We're satisfied 'twas this 
alone that made the Boches think of home and realize 
that we were sore, so signed the pledge to fight no more. 
The kaiser dropped his crown and robe, and lost all hope 
to rule the globe because he knew that Yankee stuff was 
far from being any bluff. Yes, we are from the Signal 
Corps, and will be proud forevermore, for we have all 
right to be as members of this Three O Three. Our 
homes are scattered o'er the States — from northern Maine 
to Frisco's gates. Yes, all-American are we, who came 
from far across the sea, with everything we had to give 
so that again the world might live, in peace and happi- 
ness once more, and not be bothered with a war. We're 
now three thousand miles away from the homes we 
dream of every day, and mother's cooking; memories 
bring, of pie an' cake 'n' ev'rything. When I get back 
to loved ones dear I'll do my best to make it clear that 
I've not come home to die but for much eats I'll loudly 
cry; then on my bed I'll lie me, prone, with all the com- 
forts of a home, and oh ! how happy I will be, with no 
disturbing reveille ! Oh, boy ! what joyful bliss it is for 
us to think of this, but with these happy thoughts in 
mind, we've got to fight Old Father Time with cheery 
word and broadened smile, just simply have to wait a 
while until the higher-ups of state, and each important 
delegate, with peace conferences are done, and cinched 
the vict'ry we have won. Maybe — perhaps — before that 
time, we will have left this muddy clime, if our Uncle 
Sam sees fit, to put us all upon a ship, and then we'll 
sail across the pond — now won't that really be tres bon? 
Sailing swiftly o'er the foam, and arrive at last at Home, 
Sweet Home ! 



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K. P. 

KP. is somethin' which probably our loved ones think 
is some kind of pill we get when reporting on sick 
'call, but nevertheless, he who has been one of the most 
useful of those very needed men knows better, and that if it 
can be called a pill or medicine, it surely is real in every 
respect, and we will say here that there is only one instance 
on record of any man working out of the ranks on K. P. 
This man is our genial friend, Luke Burns. Luke extended 
a pass a trifle — only 14 days — was given a sentence of about 
three weeks in the kitchen, and he used the broom so hard 
on the floor, that the Indian thought he would have no floor 
in the kitchen if Luke was permitted to go on with his 
pranks. He also nearly scrubbed the bottoms off the boilers, 
so after spending two weeks in making himself useful on 
the 1,000,000,000 jobs which are to be found by a wide- 
awake mess sergeant, he was given the rank of corporal of 
the K. P. squad and much valuable information has been 
derived by the members of this command by having a 
short consultation with Luke on the subject. The art of 
K. P. is something which, since this great war has started, 
has been much written about, but we dare say that we had a 
sergeant who could find more jobs in one day than Noah 
found for those of his flock who helped to put up the much- 
heralded ark. If you will delve deep enough into books, 
you will find that among the Indian's traits was the blessing 
of good eyesight and he, as an Indian, did not go back on 
his race when it came to having two real eyes. When you 
come to pare potatoes for a company of 280 men, it is no 
small task and, of course, it used to hold up the visits to 
the canteen for ice cream cones and the many delicacies 
which it used to have for us. Of course, approximately 
150 pounds of potatoes had to be pared each day and while 
some of the men used to do them without saying a word, 
all are not given the same spirit and so others used to figure 
a trifle ahead. Ben Herr, Fisher and Herlan were in there 
on one occasion when they thought that by filling the G. I. 
can with a box and then putting the potatoes in on top of 
the box, they could get out of a great deal of hard work 
of paring, and as Kahaly had a trip to Trenton on that day, 



they did about one-third of the job — the box filled the can 
so that the cooks said it was O. K. and the laugh seemed 
to be on the cooks, but when they discovered that the trick 
had been put over on them the next day, they surely made it 
hot for the trio — but you know that bunch. The kitchen 
is a place where a good many of the A. W. O. Ls. go to on 
the first offense and we surely had quite a few on that first 
trip the boys took to New York State. We had about nine 
of them, who thought that it was time for the summer 
vacations to be in order, so they stayed at home as long as 
they desired and when their money was gone and they had 
their fill of the doings back home, they started to straggle 
their way back to the army, if that is what this might be 
called. A few of them were lucky and landed in the kitchen 
and orders were that they were such criminals (as you know 
A. W. O. L. is surely something awful to do in the army) 
that they were to be worked to the limit, but as long as they 
had the good time home, a little work did not hurt their 
spirit. A few of the more unfortunate landed in the M. P. 
guardhouse and had to be escorted back and forth each day, 
as there was not enough room in the guardhouse for them. 
We know that they had a hard time of it down there by the 
way the gang used to sing, "Hail, Hail the Gang's All Here," 
when they used to come back at night. 



The Ultimate Bliss 

"I shall be happy all over, 

I'm going to bed in a bed." 
These lines from the pen of Carolyn Wells express the senti- 
ment of every man in Company C. The many sleeping 
places we have "enjoyed" in beloved France are not to be 
forgotten ; in fact, the memory lingers. Our pride and dig- 
nity were wounded, even before the days of Lart. The 
humble stable, clean in some respects, was the first coo-shay, 
and expressions of regret and disgust concerning it, were 
exchanged — intermingled with words not in the dictionary. 
However, we grew accustomed to almost anything, and slept 
innocently and peacefully even in the mire. "I'm going to 
bed in a bed" — thoughts of home — will we appreciate bed? 
Well, I should say "Wee." 



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Our Little Guests . 

Listen, my friends, and you shall hear 

About the cooties we have over here. 

They are a louse-like creature 

With many feet, 

And they congregate most 

Where our shirt and pants meet; 

But they don't all stay there 

As I sure well know 

For all over my body they run to and fro. 

They find a nice place and, 

Bite out a patch — 

And then, by golly, you've just got to scratch. 

But as soon as you scratch 'em 

Their location they change, 

'N you're diggin' away 

Like a dog with the mange 

Oh, these little friends' company is certainly bad 

'N this continual itchin' is drivin' me mad. 

Each morning will find us 

All seated around 

With our undershirts neatly 

Spread out on the ground. 

We carefully search them 

From the tail to the neck 

And suspiciously examine 

Each queer little speck. 

Some of the specks— as you would suppose— 

Are those mean little devils that spoil our repose. 

We stealthily grasp one 

Between finger and thumb 

And then Mister Cootie is just about done. 

On one thumb nail we place him 

With a great deal of caution, 

Then on top with the other and cootie is — "nawthin." 

That night tho, we have them 

The same as before, 

Or, where we had one, 

There are seventeen more. 

I lie on my back, a tossin' and pitchin'. 

But no rest for a human 



With this scratchin' and itchin'. 

No, the coots are not choicy upon whom they feed; 
Non-coms and officers have the very same breed. 
O, it's tough out here mid the shot and shell, 
But you've a chance to come through 
If all things go well. 
These cooties, though, no one can escape 
■ There's no luck about it ; 
It's not ruled by fate. 

If we ever get back in the rear of the lines 
Where clean clothes can be had 
And a bath at all times — 

Well that's just the place where I want to stay 
An' soak in hot water for a whole bloomin' day. 
So much for the cooties — I've got to go now 
As I hear a voice calling : Come on get your chow ! 



The Souvenir Craze 

Shorty, the souvenir king (as he gives the hole in his 
breeches the once over) : I'd like to keep this hole for 
a souvenir, but I have nothing to wrap it in. 



Sure, Jim, You're a Regular Regular 

O'Kane : Got a letter from the girl today, Hughie. 
O'Brien: And what did she have to say, Jim? 
O'Kane : She says Henry is in the regular army at Texas. 
O'Brien : Well, perhaps he is. 

O'Kane:- Sure, but what the hell kinduv an army does she 
think I'm in? 



WANTED — To know why the men of the Naval Reserve 

(Advt.) 



got all the women. — McKendrick. 



FOR EXCHANGE— A fresh-water life belt to exchange 
for a salt-water life belt. Also wanted some extra cork 
for same. — Lipman. (Advt.) 



FOR SALE — A perfectly good second-hand shed. Can 
be used as a dog-house or a telephone booth. Apply 
M. S. E. Meyer. (Advt.) 



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Delivering Messages Toot Sweet 

REMEMBER how the courier in the civil war play 
used to rush up to his commanding officer, deliver 
his message verbally and then drop, exhausted and 
covered with dust and blood? 

Well, we had couriers in this little fracas, too. Only our 
couriers were mounted on motorcycles. Their names were 
Oda Boling and George Romberger. 

Josephat Vandal did some courier work, too, but his special- 
ty was truck driving. They gave him a one-ton Ford truck 
and told him to use it in carrying supplies from battalion 
and company headquarters to the various scattered units 
of the company. It's a rule that Fords never get stuck — ■ 
ain't it? But, up in the shell-torn battle area where there 
are no roads, or, where there are roads — they are all broken 
up by shell holes — and where there is beaucoup wire 
'n'everything — there were many exceptions to that old rule. 
But not in the case of Vandal — no, siree ! 
If his old bus took a plunge into a shell hole, he just got 
out, picked it up, set it down on an unblemished part of 
the road, stepped on her and went rattling along — until 
she took another dive, in which case he just repeated the 
performance. 

But we were talking about couriers, weren't we? Well, 
our pair of daredevils worked out of the division message 
center, and carried messages, orders, etc., all through the 
division. They covered the same sort of country that Van- 
dal did. And many's the time a weary doughboy took a 
leap for his dugout, mistaking the sound and speed of one 
of the machines for a big "un" passing over. 

And how'd you like to take a motorcycle joyride in No 
Man's Land? That's what Romberger did once when his 
map double-crossed him. 

These lads never had lights, of course — even on the dark- 
est nights. Boling was couriering down a road at full tilt 
when he suddenly — and darned suddenly at that— came to 
a halt and took a dive through the windshield of an army 
Dodge going in the opposite direction. That sent him back 
to the hospital for many weeks. 



Oh, yes, Sam Codispoti did some A. D. T. work, too. A 
truck ran up against him and put his steering gear out of 
business. So he ditched the damaged machine, checked it 
with a nearby M. P. and continued his errand on foot. 
When he came back to redeem his noble charger, it had 
vanished ! 

Sam never found out what became of his velocipede. But — 
sh-h-h-h — the second platoon was the only platoon that had 
a motorcycle and Bock once salvaged a whole side car. 
Maybe that's the way the second platoon got the rest of 
the machine. We dunno, of course. 

These are some of the interesting things that happened 
to our mounted couriers. 

But, every day they were on the job and had plenty of all 
manner of troubles. It was almost invariably raining, but 
the 'cycles and riders kept up their work over all sorts 
of roads and under all sorts of conditions. You're all 
right, boys — you sure did your bit. 



Railbirds 

In the bow a mob is huddled, 

In the stern there's misery, too, 
And at midships, brains befuddled, 

Leans a writhing, choking crew. 
In each nook and in each corner 

"Fore" and "aft" the gallant ship, 
Fallen warriors do adorn her, 

Holding on with iron grip. 
Some, near dying, are a'flying 

Towards the rail upon the decks. 
Then are, crying and a'sighing 

O'er the sides with straining necks. 
They've forgot they're homeward going. 

For the floors are sadly stained, 
And a sickly stench is growing 

Turning those as yet unpained. 
The Atlantic's bounding higher, 

Beating madly as they spill, 
And to someone's droll inquire, 

"Once again?" They never will. 



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In the Repair Shop 

REPAIR shop is a good name for a war hospital or 
it might appropriately be called a human reconstruc- 
tion depot- — it surely was in my case. Fortunately or 
unfortunately (as the case may be) I was sent to the hos- 
pital just as the party started, with typhoid. 

The A. E. F. was not so well established then (June, 1918) 
as now, especially in the matter of hospitals, so I was sent 
to a British hospital where I had a little party all my own. 
It was known as General Hospital No. 30 and it surely was 
a general hospital, not only in the various diseases to be 
found there, but also in the number of different nationalities 
represented. 

I was transferred in the course of a week to the isolation 
ward and in this ward were Australians, New Zealanders, 
Scotchmen, a Newfoundlander and some English Tommies. 

It was a splendid hospital — medical staff, nursing staff and 
orderlies — and we were all given the very best of treatment. 
Owing to the fact that I was the first and only Yank there 
the English nurses fussed over me a good deal. This was 
very gratifying, of course, but at the same time embarrassing. 

There was one nurse in particular — the night nurse — and 
every time I looked at her (and it was often) I just natural- 
ly thought of that popular song, "I don't want to get well, 
I don't want to get well, for I'm in love with a beautiful 
nurse." I did want to get well but, believe me, with a reg- 
ular nurse like that it wasn't half so tough as it might have 
been. Some nurse ! and I'm writing to her yet. 

This hospital was located just outside of Calais and as a 
consequence we experienced a good many air raids. Ger- 
man planes came over regularly on clear nights and made 
life miserable. Warning of their approach would be given 
about fifteen minutes before they arrived. First, the lights 
were shut off, next a gun fired — three shots — and a siren 
whistle gave warning blasts at intervals of one minute until 
the "all-clear" signal sounded. 

If we had slept up to this time then we would be awak- 
ened by feeling our folding cots being lowered to the floor. 



All patients able to leave their beds were ordered into a 
dugout a hundred yards distant. 

The rest of us would sit up in bed, light fags and listen 
to the zum zum overhead, and the anti-aircraft guns, and 
try to guess in what direction the bombs were dropping. 
One night a Jerry uncorked three bombs that landed in 
a field fifty yards from the end of our hut and the next 
morning the orderly wheeled me out on a cot to look at 
the holes they had made. 

That's the closest I ever came to being under fire and 
the only time I was near to a Jerry was when two Jerry 
prisoners, acting as stretcher-bearers, carried me from the 
ambulance to the hospital ship at Calais. Across the chan- 
nel and back to Dover for the second time in less than 
three months, aboard a Red Cross ambulance train and 
on to Faukham, between Dover and London, where Amer- 
ican Base Hospital No. 37 was located. 
From the station into a Ford ambulance for a twenty- 
minute ride to the hospital. A Brooklyn Medical Unit 
was stationed here and the Yank that drove the ambulance 
was the first I had seen in two months. He gave me an 
American cigarette and both he and the Fatima looked 
pretty good to me. 

From the ambulance into the receiving ward, where a 
bunch of "long-hairs" gave me the once-over, took away 
my travelling card that the Britishers had given me (it was 
marked thus : No. 999, typhoid, U. S. A.) and gave me a 
highball to "J" ward, where I stayed for the duration. 
I will never forget the first night I spent in that ward. 
A Yank in the next bed to mine died and when the two 
orderlies came in to carry him out they looked at me 
and I overheard this part of their whispered conversation : 
"Guess that guy will be next." And when the nurse started 
taking my temperature every half hour and the doctor came 
around and wanted to know who should be notified in case 
of— well, boy, you know I could almost smell the flowers 
and hear 'em blowin' taps. He later reassured me, though, 
with the knowledge that if my illness didn't leave me with 
rheumatism or heart trouble, I'd be as good as new. 
He also told the nurse that I looked kind of hungry and 



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told her to feed me plenty of fat bacon so that I could 
be fed up before I ran down. Well, I started in eating 
beaucoup bacon, rind and all, and by the time the armistice 
was signed I tipped the scales at 125 lbs. 
All joking aside, this hospital was as nearly perfect as 
an army base hospital could possibly be. 
After I got off light diet and on light duty, I started 
cooking for about 36 light-diet patients in the same ward 
and got my revenge. I also dished out medicines to help 
the nurses when they were very busy. One day the nurse 
gave me a flock of capsules to give to a rheumatic patient 
and a handful of pills for another patient suffering from 
dysentery. Well, something or other took my mind off the 
job in hand and I shuffled up the medicines so that the 
rheumatic got the pills and the other fellow the capsules. 
I expected to be charged with murder in the first degree, but 
it must have worked out all right in both cases as neither 
of the patients "kicked in." 

One example of the efficiency there : A Yank, from the 
30th Division, was brought in on a stretcher with his left 
leg amputated just above the knee and looking very pale. 
One week later he was walking about with the aid of' a 
crutch and looking much better and just 21 days from the 
day he was hit, he left for Liverpool to board the hospital 
ship for home. 

Culinary Success in the Army 

Mooney: Is an army cook ever successful, Leo? 
Cain : Sure, Dan, when he can so camouflage bully beef 
that the customers like it and come back for thirds. 



The Lure of the Mess Call 

Scene : P. C. 309th Infantry. 

Time : Midnight. 

Music : Jerry's Whizz Band. 

Lighting Effects: Star shells and skyrockets. 

Officer: Sergeant, get a runner to deliver this message 

Sergeant (half an hour later) : I can't find one, sir. 

Officer : Go outside and shake a mess kit. 

It worked. 



The Chocolate Soldier 

TO begin with, Eddie was disconsolate — for some one 
had told him that at the mess line he would receive 
a large bar of sweet chocolate, and, upon arriving 
at the mess hall, he found out that that some one had been 
kidding him. No chocolate was to be had for love nor 
money, and, as I say, Eddie could not be comforted. Oh, 
it was a sad, cruel world. Nobody cared for him. It was 
a hell of an army ! 

Sadly, he wandered about his billet that day. Nothing could 
cheer him for it was a sad, dry, chocolateless world and 
there was nothing from which he could derive any happi- 
ness. Never mind, some day he'd show them. Just wait 
'till he got home. He'd eat chocolate until he died and then 
he guessed they'd be sorry they kidded him. 

That evening Eddie stood in the mess line once more, but it 
contained no interest for him. What did stew, or even steak 
and onions amount to when a man could not even get one 
little bite of chocolate. What? They were actually pass- 
ing some sort of stuff done up in tinfoil. Instinctively 
Eddie knew what it was— CHOCOLATE ! 

When Eddie came up to where Habel was passing out the 
goodies, Eddie received his share — about a dozen of the tin- 
foiled pieces. He opened one, and so great was his eager- 
ness that he had to bite into it. Ah ! That was it, the real 
stuff! On the whole this wasn't such a bad world after all 
and the army really did its best for the boys, and say — 
wasn't that great stew? 

History doesn't record how many times Eddie went in the 
line for another helping, but it certainly was a wonderful 
smile that decorated his face that evening. 



B 

E 

N 

N 

I 

E 



Just Bennie! That's All 

is for Bennie, beginning his name 
is for each little prank in his game 
is for nuisance, but Sultzer would say 
stands for never care, laugh and be gay 
for intentions to duck work and stall 
is Kid Einson — Bennie — that's all. 



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England 

T T TE hailed the shores of England as only sea-weary 

yy voyagers can. Afghanistan or Baluchistan would 

have looked good to us after a trip on his Majesty's 

ship, the Toloa, and England seemed like the first step to 

all good things on earth. 

We disembarked, manifesting our joys by several varieties 
of horn pipes, perfected by our sea-legs, and hurling "good- 
byes" and compliments at the Toloa in choicest words of 
a soldier's vocabulary which had been enriched by fourteen 
days of companionship with British sea-faring men. 

On the quay at Liverpool we resumed our all-too-familiar 
role as pack horses, loading ourselves with rations cal- 
culated to last three days, but, in truth, sufficient to keep 
the wolf from the door for a good week or more. 

We marched along the cobbled pavements, assailed on all 
sides by demands from the infant rabble for souvenirs 
and pennies — and boarded third-class coaches at three 
o'clock in the afternoon. With one section and its packs 
to a compartment, we were about as comfortable as a de- 
tail under machine-gun fire. 

Settling ourselves, we immediately fell upon our stores of 
delicacies and ate thereafter at half-hour intervals all the 
way to Dover. 

Upon leaving Liverpool we struck the open country. For 
miles on each side the panorama was wonderful. An im- 
mense sweep of utilized country — green pastures, meadows 
and clumps of foliage ; here and there a village or a group 
of white farm buildings with their tile roofs shining in the 
sun. Every fence, straight as a die; every road immacu- 
lately white ; every dwelling, no matter how humble, gay 
with its patch of white flowers. 

Passing through towns we were greeted by enthusiastic 
civilians who flung a "Good Luck" or a "God Bless You" 
after us, and to whom many of the fellows threw their 
addresses, which, in some cases bore fruit and started an 
interesting correspondence. 



The sun did not go down until 10 p. m. and set with a gor- 
geousness we shall never forget. Beautiful as was the 
landscape in the sunshine, it yet showed more wonderful 
under a radiant moon. The streams gleamed like silver, the 
woods were clear cut against the deep sky, the buildings 
like bright specks — every object clearly defined and given 
a gem-like lustre by the brilliant moon. 

Early on the trip Kilbourn was taken with the unfortunate 
malady, which later landed him in the hospital at Toul. 
His groans were heartrending and his suffering terrible, but 
we were powerless to help him. Even Lieut. Olsen's remedy 
and Gally's soothing words proved poor relief. 

About midnight we stopped at Derby and were served 
coffee and sandwiches by two hearty English girls. After 
which we tried to make ourselves comfortable in our com- 
fortless compartments. 

Just as day was dawning we arrived at Dover and were 
marched up a forty-five degree grade to Victoria Park — 
a row of houses which had sheltered many of the English 
gentry in bathing seasons gone by — and the property of the 
Duke of Connaught. Our first breakfast made us think we 
were back on the "Good Ship", and by supper time we 
wished we were. 

Under the strict surveillance of our worthy sergeants we 
were permitted to review the quaint old town. Many a 
"tuppence a penny" we spent in the shops for sweets and 
lime juice, and a few of us had a Hooverized meal in one 
of the immaculate little restaurants. 

Unfortunately, all of the squads lost their sergeants — acci- 
dents of course — but we managed to get along fairly well. 
We hung around street corners watching the crowd — Eng- 
lish, Scotch and Canadian soldiers — the women in their 
mourning, and boys just out of their cradles swinging 
canes and wearing derbies. 

In the afternoon we explored the towers and dungeons of 
the historic Dover Castle — rich with the stories of mediaeval 
wars and monarchs. 

Early on the trip we heard the first rumble of the guns in 



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France, and passing through the towns in the night, lighted 
factory windows gave evidence that the munition workers 
did not cease their labors at the close of day. On every 
hand women were doing men's work — everywhere war was 
in the air and it was at Dover that we first saw the work 
of the Boche's plane. 
We left England for France on the third morning. 



Le Claron 

It doesn't seem quite fitting that such a time-honored insti- 
tution as the bugler should escape his just share of praise 
(or ancient vegetables) in this chronicle of glorious deeds. 
So, I take mon crayon in hand to do full justice to this 
much-abused, but modest person. Upon entering the army, 
one of the first questions put to us was, "Is there a bell-hop 
or bill-collector in this bunch?" A few said, "Yes," and 
were told that they were to become buglers. Just think of 
it — such a splendid opportunity right off the bat! With 
some misgiving they took the little horns, and with Stetsons 
pulled over their eyes, slunk out to the woods. In a few 
days they made their debut as buglers. How very sweet 
they started it, but oh, how sour it came out. Suitable 
reward was duly received. Verily, theirs is a hard life. 
Instead of answering the call for squads east, they go to 
the woods to practice Ted Davis' specialty — fatigue call. 
They then start on a more pleasing subject — chow call. And 
then to the hundred and one other calls that help to make 
the soldier's life miserable. By the time the calls were 
learned, peace was declared. We'll all become ordinary 
civilians with nothing to wake us but old bens. Then the 
bugler will be out of a job. It's a tough life ! 



How's This One? 

A big Yank drove his truck up in front of a Y. hut, stopped 
and went inside. A bunch of French youngsters, playing 
in the street, were soon climbing all over the truck. The 
Yank appeared in the window of the hut and bellowed : 
"Hey, you tadpoles. As you were !" 



Finis la Guerre 

Now they say the war is over- — ■ 
Gosh, we hope the news is true, 

For we've had our share of troubles 
Since we sailed the ocean blue. 

Sunny France may please some people, 

But, to us, it seems pas bon, 
When it comes to praising nations 

We are for the U. S. strong. 

Now we've bunked in sundry billets. 
Some were bad — and some were worse 

And we've entertained the Cootie 
Whose attentions made us curse. 

Yes, we've hiked through France's byways — 

Eight thousand kilos more or less — 
O'er her hills and through her forests, 
'Till we were a mud-soaked mess. 

Corned Bill, we ate a plenty, 

Gold-fish, yes, and Hard-Tack, too. 

Cussed the cook's strange blend of Boot-leg. 
Filled up on Slumgullion stew. 

And we've laid out there at nightfall. 
Everything pitch dark and still, 

Jerry's bombing planes above us, 
Seeking out their nightly kill. 

We've been up where the G. I. cans, 
Whistling loud their hymn of hate, 

Made us stop and slowly wonder 
Which one bore our name and fate. 

Where the dull, low-whining shrapnel, 

Potato-masher and grenade, 
Machine-gun bullets, rifle-fire, 

Flares and gas-shells ply their trade. 

Do you wonder that we're happy 
When we turn our backs on this, 

Looking far off to the westward, 
See but Home and Peace and Bliss? 



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Maneuver Today 

Rise and shine? Now, what cha mean, bud? 

It's only 5 o'clock. What's that ? 
Divisional maneuver scheduled 

For today? Hell, where's my hat? 

Wish some guy would tell them moguls, 
Who dope up this stuff at Corps, 

That along 'bout last November 
We concluded this here war. 

Bacon, coffee, bread for breakfast, 
Same old stall — cooks had no time — 

Gulp it down in seven minutes, 
Ain't these problems sure a crime? 

Fall in promptly at five-thirty-five, 

Slickers, helmets, combat packs, 
Rations for one meal and gas-masks, 

Don't forget to wear your gats. 

Come on — get aboard that lorry, 

You first fifty-seven men. 
Lay off that stuff. Quit cha shovin'. 

Hope we don't get there till ten. 

Pouring rain to beat the devil, 

Been like that the whole week past, 

Ain't these frog roads rottin' ridin'? 
Here's where we get off at last. 

What's that ! Open a lamp station 

On that hill two miles away? 
When we've carried this junk up there 

Guess we've earned one full month's pay. 

Damn it, boys, that gas I swallered 

Up there in that Argonne push 
Makes these hills damn heavy goin'. 

Sit that lamp behind that bush. 



What's that? This Division's movin', 

To a seaport, sure as sin. 
Why the hell don't that guy answer? 

I'm wet clear through to the skin. 

How'd you like to be in New York 
With a Yankee Mademoiselle? 

When I get these hobs on Broadway 
Ah! boy, won't I raise some hell? 

There's that damn fool started flashing, 
Dash, dot, dash, dot. What's he say? 

"Close your station; this war's over." 
Grab that lamp, let's get away. 

Wonder if there's any place where 
We could get a glass of wine. 

Watch your step, here comes a Looey. 
There's the lorry, hop right in. 

Hope the cooks will save us dinner, 
What! you say it's half past three? 

Well, that's just another meal that 
This Army's ahead on me. 

Holy smokes ! why here's our billet, 
Right 'long side this stack of wheat, 

What is that the top kick's yelling — 
We don't have to stand retreat? 

Believe me, bud, these post-war battles 
That we fight from morn till night, 

Make us realize quite fully 

Gen'ral Sherman sure was right. 



Line Up For Matzos 

Top Kick Elliott (making announcement at retreat) : The 
following men will report to the orderly room : Kahn, 
Jaeobson, Fersky, O'Brien and O'Kane. Also all others 
of the Jewish faith. 



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On Guard 

Have you ever walked on guard? 
It surely takes the card 

In rainy France. 
It's just one persistent flood; 
You wade knee deep in sticky mud — 

Some circumstance. 

But— you do a lot of good 
All around the neighborhood 

About the camp. 
You hear the dogs bark and growl 
And the hoot ! hoot ! of the owl, 

While you tramp. 

In the winter it was cold 

And you shivered as you strolled 

On your post. 
You thought of comrades all warm and dry, 
While the long, long hours dragged by, 

Endless — almost. 

Your heart leaped high at the shadowy form 
Of the stern O. D., and you feared a storm — 

A bawling out. 
For your general orders were vague in mind 
Besides, your wits were hard to find, 

Without a doubt. 

Some day you'll laugh, in civilian clothes 
With turned-up pants and silken hose 

And gaudy ties. 
You'll tell the folks all kinds of yarns 
How you bravely guarded the billets and barns ; 
They're not wise. 

When in perilous times your guard you kept 
Fearless and brave, while your comrades slept 

In ignorant bliss. 
Without your help on this sentinel post 
You tell them the war we'd surely lost. 

Good stuff — this. 



To the Whole Battalion 

Here's to the health of the three-o-three 

We were once five hundred strong. 

May the rest of our life 

Be free from strife 

Though war's memories linger long. 

We left a few, somewhere out there, 

But they died like men in the fight. 

They played up well 

In that game of hell ; 

Gave their all for the cause of right. 

We all have had our work to do 

And we know we haven't failed ; 

The kaiser's done, 

And his place in the sun 

From his vision has ever paled; 

We've heard the bullets mournful whine ; 

Machine-guns sputter, bark and snap, 

While whiz-bangs screamed 

And big uns seemed 

Inclined to blow us off the map. 

Then we battled with the cooties, too ; 

They were with us to the last ; 

Couldn't quell them 

Nor expel them 

For they mutiplied too fast. 

Experience has taught us much. 

Thrilling times; we've all had some, 

And so we're proud 

We joined the crowd 

And did our bit to beat the hun. 

Now that the war is over 

And the dove of peace is found; 

There's not a man 

Doesn't wait the command, 

"Come on — we're homeward bound." 

But before we leave 

Let us give a hearty yell. 

For the Poilus in blue 

And the Tommies, too, 

And the rest who fought so well. 



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The Old Mess Kit 

"Your mess kit must be shined — 
So your face you plainly see." 

Lack of this, you'd likely find, 
Meant a week or two K. P. 
C. O.'s orders — and they go. 

Your mess kit must be scrubbed 
With hot water, brush and soap, 

And from it all specks rubbed, 
If a week-end pass you hoped. 
Camp Dix stuff. 

Your mess kit may be rusty — 

Or with smut and soot be black — 

And chow all spoiled and musty, 
Caked in corner, edge and crack. 
Who cared — at the front? 

Your mess kit could be washed — 
Water, mud, or — any way, 

And if by chance 'twas lost, 
Your helmet saved the day ! 
'Twas so different there. 

And now la guerre est finis — 

Mess kits gotta shine like new, 

And you have the tale of mess kit — 
Yes, and every word is true. 



Ike Takes a Backward Glance 

I SHOULD start this bit of foolishness off as Ham 
Turner used to start off the 4th platoon in the days 
spent at Camp Dix and I know the most of you 
remember the way that was done. If not, the following 
is a good sample of what took place many mornings. 
Like a chaplain who has buried a good many soldiers 



and has his prayers by heart, Ham did not have to read 
it from a book. I am going to ask you to get Walt 
Colville to say that this is the way it was done, as he 
and I used to rehearse it in the little barracks : "Fourth 
platoon — Attention ! count off ; right by squads ; Warren 
act as file closer and McDaniels count the step." Then 
the old reliable "1, 2, 3, 4," and the day's work was on 
its way. Of course the 4th platoon used to have a few 
of the lads who used to fall out, but you know unless 
that was done it would not be C Company and speaking 
of C Company, I believe that there are a great many of 
the boys who would like to be back in Camp Dix now 
and those utterances of "We will be here when they 
go," etc., would cease to be, as most of the lads have 
seen nearly enough of Sunny (get it) France. I do not 
think that even Fisher would think of refusing to clean 
a horse's foot, and any one who has ever heard the story 
of him refusing Major Kelly's order will ever forget it, 
and personally, I might say that Ike was just across the 
runway from him looking through January's front legs 
and enjoying a good laugh, and should Jim have asked 
Ike to start in on the manicure job, I would have had 
to say that my set was over next to Frank Wade's girl's 
picture on the shelf that he had back there. Met Frank 
the other day and he said that he did not have to parley 
with any of the French dames as his little wine was 
good enough for him. I am not going to say anything but 
leave it to Frank, that's all. The French class which used to 
be on at Camp Dix could come in for a little comment and, 
boys, in your old age, that is, any of you who were in 
that class, are surely going to have some happy thoughts 
even if you but recall the time that Dud Merrill asked 
Aldrich how to say, "We are from the same town in the 
United States," and Ike slipped it to him easy, "Jem ma 
pell Smith" — but that was not bad considering that I 
had yet to hit these sunny shores and had no idea what- 
soever of cinquante centimes or the many other French 
phrases — cognac, vin blanc, etc., so you see as long as 
Aldrich did not have to hit the kitchen, it was all right. 

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"Gas!!" 

" f^\ AS !" What a start that word used to give us while 
I -r we were in the rookie period. "Gas !" Pronounced 
by an instructor with all the sharp imperativeness 
of a starter's "Go" at a horse race. "One, two, three, 
four, five, six seconds — that was very good with the ex- 
ception of a few men who used up about eight seconds 
getting their masks on," would say the instructor, "Try 
it again. Those men will have to get some speed or they 
will surely be casualties when they hit the lines." 
Thus we had it in training — day after day — mask drill 
in fresh air ; mask drill in real gas ; mask drill on hikes 
and this one, too — we wore masks during time that 
we were "on our own" — until we wondered which would 
wear out first, the face or the mask. 

With all this drill we firmly believed that if a man were 
a second late getting that mask on, his people would 
collect $10,000. 

Going into the lines we found a nice place to sleep 

(about one hour), but false gas alarms kept sounding all 

night, making a continuous performance of donning 

masks. After those sentries had had some experience 

with gas they let us sleep more peacefully. 

When the men had been in the lines a while ; seen, felt 

and smelt gas ; seen men gassed and gas shells explode 

without damage to anything but the ground, they were 

not so much disturbed when a gas alarm was given. The 

following dialogue is typical of the attitude of old timers 

toward a gas alarm : 

Bill, just waking up, to Jim who is sound asleep : 

"Say, Jim, there's a gas alarm." 

"Can you smell any gas?" asks Jim. 

"No, can you?" 

"Not a bit, maybe some one changed his sox on the 

windward side of the sentry." 

Whereupon Bill and Jim roll over and carry on their 

slumbers. 

Mustard, phosgene, sneezo and H. E. — they all came 

our way. 



Mustard attacks both inside and outside. A man may 
have his mask on only to get his hands in some mustard 
gas and be severely burnt. 

The most aggravating is sneezing gas. This stuff makes 
a man sneeze, sneeze, sneeze, get sore actually and fig- 
uratively so that he will fight even his own bunkie, and 
if he could get the one who is putting over the "sneezo" 
it would be a wooden cross "somewhere in France" for 
him. 

After a heavy fire of high explosives the air becomes 
blue with the gas from the explosives. Although not of 
high enough concentration to be fatal, this H. E. will put 
a man out of commission and put a husk in his voice 
for weeks afterwards. 

Now it is "finny lee gare" and we have had our last gas, 
but the old watchword remains with us to be used by 
the mice when the cat approaches. For instance, when 
the "flu" held us in its deadly clutches, and the "pest 
house" was full of masked "flu" suspects, the pseudo 
fatimas wore the mask over the second button of the 
blouse while the doctor was not around. Upon the 
signal, "Gas," which announced the approach of the 
M. D., they were returned to their proper position. 
May the signal stay with us but the gas perish in 
obscurity. 




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The Wonder Week 

SEVEN days leave — seven days out of the army — a 
whole week in which you can be "you" and you 
can get up when you feel like it, go to bed when you 
please, drink cognac, flirt with mademoiselles, prome- 
nade, or climb mountains ! 

Remember when they told you to get your pack together 
— you were going on pass? How your head swam, your 
feet got light and you pranced with joy at the thought of 
getting away from the army for a whole week ? 
And such wonder places to spend that week! Surely 
there must be a human heart back of our army after all. 
Vals-les-Bains, the city of baths ; Aix-les-Bains, with its 
wonderful springs ; La Bourboule, the resort tucked away 
in the mountains ; Grenoble, the historic old Roman 
town ; Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo, the cities on the beau- 
tiful Mediterranean — every one different and every one 
full of interest. 

Let's forget about the hikes to the stations, the uncom- 
fortable trains and the M. P.s and we'll take a dream trip 
on a permission in France. 

We have left the foggy, hazy, rainy country of Central 
France and are headed south. Sunny fields, orchards, 
flowers, vineyards fly by and you are in the hills, those 
great rolling hills covered with vines and crowned with 
fleecy white clouds. Your train rolls into a station and 
someone yells "All out." Now, let's forget again how 
those whadyecallems lined up and marched us through 
streets to our hotels, let's begin at the hotels, or rather, 
with those wonderful beds — remember how you'd pull 
off all your Q. M. property, and, with nothing but 
nature's dress, jump into the pile of feathers, and as you 
lay sprawled out with a bottle of beer on one side of 
your bed and cigarettes on the other, you'd make a wish 
that you could die that way? Then you'd doll up for a 
promenade. You'd get out on the street and for the first 
time you'd realize you were out of the army. There was 
nothing on your mind but your cap, and you didn't care 



if it fell off. If you are guilty you can tell in your own 
way how you hunted out the beverage shops, or how 
you'd spy a petite mademoiselle dressed as only she 
can dress, and how you'd try to tell her in your perfect 
French that she was the sweetest, loveliest thing on 
earth and would she promenade with you, and how she'd 
come back at you with "Why sure, kid, I'd be glad to" in 
perfect Yank. 

Yes, and you can finish the rest of that dream of seven 
days' bliss, but, at least I've got you started. 




JDov» loo-r T*V Stew* 



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His'n or Our'n 

This takes place in a well-protected dugout, situated at the 
edge of the woods in which division headquarters was lo- 
cated at the St. Mihiel front. 

Brady, Watt, Young and Menaker are the happy family 
who have taken possession. 
9:00 p. m. (Brady) — Well, fellows, I guess it's time to 

turn in. 
They make preparations for the night — put out the fire, let 

down the gas curtain and assure themselves that their 

gas masks are handy. 
10:00 p. m. — Whiz — z — z — z — zzzz — bang! 
Brady (starting up from tranquil dreams of Seneca Falls) — 

My God ! \Vhat's'at ? Was that his'n or our'n ? 
Young (reassuringly) — That was our'n, King, go to sleep. 
They all turn over and are immediately back in the States 

again. 
10:10 p. m. — Whiz — z — z — zzzzz — bang! 
Brady, encore (pounding Young and kicking Menaker) — 

Vic, Menaker, listen! Is that his'n or our'n? 
Chorus — Shut up and go to sleep — that was our'n. 
They make another attempt. 
10:30 p. m. — Whiz — z — z — zzz — bang! bang! 
10:30^ p. m. — Bang! Whiz — z — zzz — bang! 
10:31 p. m. — Bang! bang! 

10:31^> p. m.— Bang! Whiz — zz — z — zz— bang! 
10 :32 p. m. — Whiz — zzzzzz — bang ! 

Brady (still awake from the last interruption) — Vic, Men- 
aker, that's his'n, that's his'n, that ain't our'n, that's 

his'n. 
Young (waxing mean with semi-hourly interruptions) — 

Yes, that's his'n all right. 
7:00 a. m. (next day Menaker shakes Young)— Say, Vic, 

where 's Brady and Watt? 
Young — Darned if I know. Brady was still talking at 5 

o'clock this morning. 
Menaker (discovering evidence of a hasty departure) — 

Maybe they've found a dugout that's their'n now, 

where shells of his'n and our'n won't bother them any 

more. 



Ye Brave Toloa 

Oh, hail Toloa, we sing your praise ! 
Our memories of bygone days 
Are not complete, until we bring 
You back into our memory ring. 
May twenty-seventh you ventured forth 
Bound, with us, for an unknown port. 
Remember how we loathed you, when 
We boarded you that day? But then, 
Remember with what halting stride 
We left you on the other side. 
Your buffeting and tossing, true, 
Had taught us to rely on you 
And perhaps, to love you some, 
But not your ancient fish nor slum. 
Ah, yes, as yet, I plainly see 
Some comrades, who, quite hastily, 
Coming to worship at your rails, 
Gave up their all, to feed the whales, 
Or other fish who chanced to be 
In the nearby locality. 
We stuck to you, yes, but I feared, 
If land had suddenly appeared 
While we were far out there at sea, 
You would have lost our company. 
You fooled the Hun sea-dogs clear through, 
You, and your valiant hero crew. 
We owe you much, as much as man 
Can justly owe in life's short span, 
And so the boys of the Three-O-Three 
Wish you and yours, prosperity. 
May luck attend you where you roam 
And always bring you safely home. 



The Last Laugh 

Campbell (coming back from sick call) : 

I'll ever go to that doctor again. 
Woodie: Why? 

Campbell: He gave me a shot of A. T. S. 
The whole room: Ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! 
Campbell: Well, I got marked quarters, anyway. 



I'm damned if 



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Lookin' Back 

SPEAKING about the good and bad times we have 
been through. How little we thought of the good 
old times back in Camp Dix until we landed over 
here ! Right from the start we began telling of the 
happy days back there. The first thing was to get to 
know one another — but that didn't take long. I remem- 
ber one day when there were a few of us sitting on our 
bunks, Ike Dore asked Bowman what town he was from, 
and Bowman said, "Central Village, Mass." Right here 
Herlan spoke up and asked how big it was, and he said, 
"About 200 in farm season." Well, you might know Ike 
got in again. He says, "Why, yes, I have been there. 
I spent a whole week there one night and I know your 
fire department — he is a fine looking fellow." Bowman 
had to come back and he said to Ike, "Why don't you 
learn the barber business, Ike? All the farmers won't 
hit you a poke in the eye when you try and cut their 
hair." Well, anyway, Ike didn't cut Aldrich's hair that 
day. That day when we came back from a hike Aldrich 
and Ike sat on a bunk the best of friends and Aldrich 
said to Ike, "Just look at me, wouldn't I look nice going 
home to my wife with my hair all cut off?" and Ike said, 
"Just look at me — wouldn't I look nice going home like 
this?" And Aldrich said, "Yes, you would, Ike." "No, 
I don't think I would look very good — I can only see 
out of one eye." We sure had some great times. Just 
look at that ball team. We had a hard team to beat. Let 
me see, we only lost five games all season ; that's going 
some, ain't it? We played six. We sure had some fine 
players on that team. There was Luke Burns, the 
Rochester boy who played right field, and a fine fielder 
he was. But at the bat he made it bad for the great Ham 
Turner, who followed him in the lineup, for after Burns 
got through swinging at the ball, there wasn't enough 
air left around the plate for Ham to live on. And there 
was Bill O'Neill, our little catcher. He was good, only 
he said he could catch better if they only had a back- 
stop—then he wouldn't have to go so far to get the ball 
to return to the pitcher. Speaking about catchers, we 



had another good one in Jackson — no, not shoeless Joe 
Jackson — for our Jackson had shoes on and that was 
what made him so slow on the bases. He ran like a dry 
creek. And there was another good player in Billings, 
but he proved to be much better in passing Out second- 
handed clothing. There was our first baseman — a finer 
man we never will run onto — -but you haven't got to be 
a fine man to be a good ball player. Speaking of Colville, 
though, he was a good ball player. Just look at our 
third baseman, McCormac. You couldn't beat that 
boy for holding down the hot corner, but we all think 
he could have done better working for some talking ma- 
chine company, and there was our big pitcher, Blair, and as 
for pitching, you couldn't beat him — no, you couldn't 
even tie him — but I think if he had a long-handled fork 
he could have done better pitching hay. The best player 
of them all was the guy that played shortstop, only he 
thought he was playing football the way be booted that 
pill around. Yes, we had a great team, so good that we 
were given a new field to play on. So one of our subs 
said he would mark and rake the field over, so sub 
Fisher got all the rakes and picks in the supply room 
and went at it in fine style. We told him he could chase 
the foul balls if he did a good job. He worked hard for 
five or six nights and, believe me, he wasn't long piping 
down after 9:10 p. m. But, anyway, he got the job done 
and then it snowed. Well, then we had the snow to 
wade around in, but they couldn't find enough snow on 
the roads so they arranged a snow battle with A and B 
Co.'s to battle with us and I don't believe we will ever 
forget that day when Merrill yelled, "At 'em, boys," 
and sure enough we went at 'em. Herlan came out of 
it looking very good — one eye closed ; poor Dick Warren 
got kicked in the bully beef basket and some one ran 
their heel across Tubby Mohr's cheek. Lucky for Tubby 
the guy had lost his heel plate on that shoe. Shortly 
after that we left camp for overseas and some trip it 
was. Lots of the boys said they never knew there was so 
much water in the world and the fish that followed the 
boat had more to eat than the whole A. E. F. 



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Our Athletic Endeavors 

ABILITY to endure hardships has proved to be one 
of the fundamental requirements for the success 
of this as well as any unit, and it was acquired by 
the development of athletics. 

The form of athletics that has been foremost of all was 
baseball. This sport obtained a start as early as the 
second day in camp. At that time there was a period 
entitled "Fatigue," unfamiliar at that stage of our mili- 
tary career, but now "tres" familiar. Many thought a 
fatigue period was a rest period after the strenuous drill, 
being confused with "bunk fatigue." During the first 
fatigue period a game was started and enthusiasm waxed 
high when to the amazement of all concerned the pas- 
time was brought to an abrupt close and the participants 
arraigned before the skipper for an explanation of the 
meaning of "fatigue." It was definitely defined and is 
now well understood. On the Wednesday and Saturday 
afternoons for the remainder of the fall, games were played 
and much enjoyment derived. 

During the winter months a basket-ball team was formed 
from C company, which in turn beat A and B and head- 
quarters companies.' C was also well represented on the 
battalion team. Basketball did not fare so well because 
of the lack of a place to practice. 

As early as January when the weather permitted, and 
there were a few beautiful days, the boys were out tossing 
the ball around. But not until the first of April did 
practice begin in earnest. Lieutenant Price at that time 
was in charge of the physical training and the company 
was rapidly rounding into one of the best trained units 
of the division. In fact, when a keen-eyed, healthy look- 
ing C company chap was asked by an officer what com- 
pany he was from, he would snap to attention, salute, 
and reply, "C company, sir." The answer was, "I 
thought so." It was not long before he didn't have to be 
asked, everybody knew what company he was from by 
his appearance. Lieutenant Price also took charge of 
the company ball team, which proceeded to trim both 
A and B companies — every time the latter companies 



thought enough of themselves to extend a challenge. The 
battalion team needed bolstering, so C company not only 
bolstered it, but proceeded to represent the battalion 
without changing its lineup. Many exciting games 
were played with other battalions, some were lost and 
a great many won, but when a team engaged C com- 
pany, it knew that it had been in a ball game before 
it was over. The pitchers were Moll, Pattison and 
George Blair j catchers, R. L. Jackson and O'Neill; 
infielders, McCormac, Herlan, J. Jackson, Morris and 
Colville ; outfielders, Turner, Remmes, Burns and Robins. 
Upon arriving overseas, there was not much of a place 
or time to play until the outfit reached Herlin-le-Sec. At 
that town the team was again formed and games played 
with various organizations. Division Headquarters was 
the first to feel the sting of defeat in an exciting, well 
played game. But, nevertheless, many an interesting 
time was passed and there was something besides "home" 
to occupy the mind for the following days. Headquarters 
thought if another game was to be played they could 
redeem themselves, so another game was arranged. This 
time the opponents exhibited another twirler, but the 
best they could do was to make an exceedingly close 
finish and be defeated by the score of 7 to 6. This game 
also furnished an introduction of C company into the 
movies. The most amusing game of all was the one with 
the Tommies. That the English boys were good cricket 
players was easily seen, as the American's ball was en- 
tirely too small for their eyesight. The way they ducked 
and waved the bats was like a burlesque show at Camp 
Dix. The Tommies could not compree the snake-like 
curves of the C company pitchers. The Tommies took 
it good-naturedly and were very much interested in 
learning the greatest of all sports. The next team to be 
tackled was the one representing the 311th Regiment 
and it was some team. It had a New York National 
league battery and was the best team that had been en- 
countered. Also C company was shy a good many play- 
ers as a maneuver had to be solved on that particular day 
and signalers were required. Also it is a pretty stiff 
proposition for a company to buck a regiment, so our first 



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foreign defeat was suffered to the tune of 7 to 1. That 
was our last game, as shortly afterwards the company 
was distributed among the different regiments for battle 
action, where an equally good record was made by the 
individual platoons. 

When Jerry started for Berlin with his tail between his 
legs and "finis LA guerre" was sounded, athletics again 
came to the fore. It greatly aided in restoring the bodies 
of the boys to their normal condition as well as occupy- 
ing the minds during those long, "watchful, waiting" days 
for the command of "homeward bound." A soccer team was 
formed from the third platoon under the supervision of 
Jack Hughes, which easily defeated all the platoons of head- 
quarters company, 311th regiment. A most interesting and 
exciting game with the former champion trench-mortar and 
one-pounder platoons decided the supremacy. The latter, 
though a much bigger and heavier team, was vanquished to 
the tune of 4 to 3. Upon returning to the old signal head- 
quarters the third platoon soccer team still remained unde- 
feated. Many games of football were indulged in, often on 
snow-covered fields and honors among the platoons were 
about even. As spring began to roll around and the weather 
grew more temperate, the "old national pastime" was 
again in evidence and, under the direction of Lieutenant 
Sauerhoff, assisted by Lieutenant Harvey, another ball 
team of the usual high standard was formed. 



'Member It? 

Here we come — 

The signal corps are we! 

All of us are members of the 3-0-3. 

We work like hell from morn 'til night 

And when it is dark we signal with our light. 

Glorious ! glorious ! 

There's a hell of a lot of work for all of us. 

We buzz, buzz, buzz, 

And we sema — semaphore — 

And we'll wig-wag the kaiser to the floor! 



The Censor Found This For Us 

Franse March 1919 
Deer Buddy ; 

this life is jes 1 detale aftur anuther, an thay shore r de- 
talen me to deth. if there evr wuz a detale i wuznt on , it 
must hav bin becaws i wuz on anuther alreddy, the stabels, 
k p, wier, gard , latrines nevrythin hav got to hav a detale 
the top kikker is a pirty gud fella but he can think of my 
name ezier then i can myself. 1 day he askt me Gabe du u 
no enythin abote a ford car, i sez shore i can mak u 1 in a 
cupl a days if u wil fergit my name wen u r reedin of 
detales. he sez nevr mind but u kin go ovr to the kitchun an 
crank the sawsege grinder four a wile, i hav desided that 
the les u no in the army the better off u r. that is why sum 
of theas noncums hav it so soft, there is a bunsh of bucks 
here to who r none as d ds detale dukkers & thay shore r 
slik at it thay wil fak bein sik er hide sumware or du 
enythin to git out of work, i bit thay cud murder the skip- 
per an git away wit it. 1 of em a gink named vanzant gows 
on the sik book 1 morning & faks bein sik wit the flew an 
gits markd kwarters well he wuz sposd to be on gard that 
nite and i had to tak his plase, i wus sorer than hell an thot i 
wood giv him a gud bust in the jaw but u no i didnt hav 
the hart to hit a kriple er a fule an he is in the hed. 1 tim 
i tride fakin a spraned ankel to git out of a hike, an the top 
giv me a nice soft job pealing aboute 8 bu of spuds sinze 
then i giv up trien to be a d d. wen we wuz up to the frunt 
i used to git on the chow detale abote evry time we et 
witch warnt very often but thos wuz the wurst detales i 
evr had, it seams a jerry alwase new wen the detale started 
out an he wood shute rite at us wen we had to git out in 
the open, we had to go abote 2 kilos to ware we got the 
chow in big cans an it tuk 2 of us to carry 1 of them then 
we had a sweet tim stagern thru the mud an dogin shells 
too. in them days tho it wuz wurth a lot to git sumpin to 
ete. we hav rode detales now to go out an fix up the rodes 
four the frog people, i no we ware out a lot of rodes walkin 
all over the country, but i think the jerry prisuners shud 
fix em eny way we hav to go out an shuvel mud and bust 
rocks nevrythin but u no me buddy my mother didnt rase 



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eny fulish children an if there is enything i no how to du 
it is to rest ezy on a shuvel er pick handel. 1 tim i wuz on 
a would detale to get sum would four the kitshun an we 
fond sum pols all cut an dry we tuk them in and cut em up 
an aboute that time a bush faced frog farmer cum runnin 
up wavin his arms an tarin his hare lik a loonatik a corse 
we cudnt mak out watinell he wuz ravin an makin sich funy 
noises abote, but we gessed sum 1 had murderd his hole 
family so we gotta fella that cud talk f rensh. Well we foun 
out that he wuz raven becaws we had tuk his would, he 
wuz goin to mak hisself a pare of shuse er a weel baro out 
of. Enywa the skipper had to jar luse with a 100 franks 
an u kin imajun wat he giv us beside all the artikels of 
war. Well buddy i gess i will hav to kwit caws the top 
gust cum in an sez i am elekted to a posi-shun with sane- 
terry mires. 

Ure pal, Gabe. 



A Sample Day 

5 :30 a. m. — Corporal of the guard stretches, consulting his 

issued Elgin with a worried look, and says: "Oh hell, it's 

either ten minutes slow or ten minutes fast," and he goes 

back to sleep. 

5:40 a. m. — Corporal of the guard wakes with a start and 

decides it is time to wake the windjammer. 

5 :45 a. m. — Corporal of the guard very gently mauls the 

bugler into a state of wakefulness. The said B. consigns 

him to the Tres Chaud Regions and hauls himself out of 

his flu-proof bunk. 

6 :00 a. m. — The bugler, dressed, goes to kitchen for a hand- 
out. 

6:15 a. m. — First agony-call sounds. 
6 :25 a. m. — "I can't git 'em up." 

6 :30 a. m. — The hounds gather for early morning pleasure. 
6:33 a. m. — Maguire and Colombo saunter in line in time 
to be late. 

6:50 a. m.— "Chow." 

7 :00 a. m. — Chamberlin wants chocolate. S. O. L. 
7:10 a. m. — Fersky goes for seconds. 
7:18 a. m. — Zahniser starts a poker game. 



7:21 a. m. — Maguire and Colombo go to breakfast, Cain 
gives 'em hell. 

7:23 a. m. — Fohrell bums a cigarette. 
7 :25 a. m. — Cain starts cussing K. P.s 
7 :29 a. m. — Protine wonders what he will do to get out of 
formations. Decides to ride sick book. 
7 :45 a. m. — O'Kane — sick, Schneider — lame, and Protine — ■ 
lazy, limp painfully toward the infirmary. 
8:00 a. m. — Squads east. 
8 :03 a. m. — Maguire and Colombo arrive. 
9 :00 a. m. — The gang returns. 
9 :03 a. m. — Fohrell bums a match. 
9:15 a. m. — "Arms forward, raise." 
9:17 a. m. — Maguire and Colombo just arrive. 
10:15 a. m. — Back to billets. 
10:16 a. m. — Brooks bums a cigarette. 
10:30 a. m.— Buzzer (?). 

10:32 a. m. — Maguire and Colombo late again. 
11 :30 a. m. — Back to the kennel. 
11 :31 a. m.- — Fohrell bums a match. 
1 1 :32 a. m. — Chamberlin wants chocolate for dinner. 
11 :35 a. m.— Stable detail and platoon sergeants go to 
mess. 

11:50 a. m.— "Chow." 
11:55 a. m. — The race. 

12:00 Noon — "No Jimmy, Du pain est finis pour vous." 
12 :05 p. m. — Davis washes mess kit and goes to billet to 
study fatigue. 

12:15 p. m. — Gang drifts back to billets. 
12:18 p. m. — Brooks bums a cigarette. 
12 :20 p. m. — Lusareto starts a crap game. 
12 :25 p. m. — Cain still cussing K. P.s. 
1 :00 p. m. — Two hours of athletics. 
1 :03 p. m. — Maguire and Colombo arrive. 
1 :08 p. m. — Davis' detail goes joyfully ( ?) to work. 
3 :00 p. m. — The mud-splashed hounds cuss their way bil- 
let-wards. 

3 :05 p. m. — Lusareto starts a crap game. 
3 :30 p. m. — The Sunset parade starts. O'Kane, Fersky, et 
al, with gas masks and "full" packs. 



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p- 
p- 



4:00 
4:03 
4:20 p. 
4:35 p. 
4:38 
4:45 
5:00 
5:30 
6:00 
6:30 p. 
9:00 p. 
9:10 

bibing much 
9:15 p. m.- 
9:20 p. m.- 
a black jack 
9:30 p. m- 
9:45 p. m.- 
9:55 p. m — 
10:00 p. m.- 



m. 
m. 
m. 
m. 
m. 
m. — 
m 
m 

m. — 
m. 
m. 
p. m. — 



Pe-rade rest. 

Maguire and Colombo late. 

Monkey meat, boot leg and punk. 

Gigliotti wants "speget". 

Fersky gets seconds. 

Back from chow. 

Off to Vic for Vin Rouge. 

Y. man says "Fini chocolay." 

Joe Carlson goes to call on a Mademoiselle. 

Jim buys Perc Arms some beer. 

—Tattoo. 

The hounds begin to straggle back after im- 

H. E. 

Darmody starts a rough house. 

Langford wins two francs from the cooks in 

game. 

Ted Davis gets busy on tomorrow's fatigue. 

Call to quarters. 

Bockmann starts an argument with Grand Pre. 

—Taps. All's quiet ( ?) for the night. 




EVERYWHERE 
IN FRANCE 



An Appeal 

"Pioneers from over-seas, strangers weaned from strife, 
You who daily hazarded that swift shutout from life, 
Returning to your mother-land, exalted men of strife, 
Bring you new ideals, intents, and philanthropic creeds? 
Bring you strength to fashion a new world from the old, 
To snip away where edges fray, to willingly unfold 
A higher sense of fellowship, a scheme to happiness, 
To undermine each governing wrong, wherein lies 

earthly stress, 
To abolish selfish coteries who sponsor poverty, 
Who juggle human destinies, who mock the so-called 

free? 
Bring you power to ostracize each narrow wanton trait, 
Converting each base evil to a loftier, sinless state? 
Bring you the key to problems as yet unsolved by time, 
Of sex and politics and industry, of justice and of crime, 
That toil be stripped of drugdery, and heart unsmirched 

by lust, 
And graft a vice forgotten in an epoch bright with trust, 
You, the generation, ascending to the throne, 
With tasks spread forth on every flank, to rectify, atone, 
Will you revive the neighbor love and banish instincts 

cold, 
And make a ripened friendship a trophy vied by gold? 
Onward into battle — We mortals reigning now 
Are watching close — We wait your verdict — Teach us 
how." 



Joe Tries to End the War 

While in St. Juvin, Joe Eros took it on himself to end the 
war by the simple method of capturing the German army. 
He started in on a captain who was muddy and had only 
one leggin, to say nothing of his three weeks' beard. No 
doubt Joe saw visions of a couple of D. S. Cs. for a few 
seconds, but then was brought out of his dream of fame 
when an American machine gunner saluted the captain and 
reported to him. Joe fell heir to a real bawling out then. 
We all felt sorry for him and wished him better luck next 
time. 



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ON 
THE 
MARCH 



Patrol Peppering 

"Duckin' the huns is nothing like duckin' Yankee guns," 
says Link, thereby calling to remembrance the episode of 
the mistaken patrol. Wherein Abe saunters out beyond 
Thiaucourt almost to the prairie to diagnose a line difficulty, 
finds it practical to alter the course of the wire somewhat 
and begins his task in the pitch of night with the shells 
a-bounchin' nearby. 

He encircles the troublesome area with about half a mile 
of wire, then discovers he has miscalculated by about 200 
yards. So he endeavors to pull the old line over to the new 
extension and while tugging away he is suddenly startled 
by the sharp spat of a rifle and the peculiar zip nearby. 
Naturally Link wallops the ground and plays possum, with 
the quick suspicion of a sniper through his mind. Once 
again a few shots fired in rapid succession cause old Link 
to breathe heavily. Through the dusk he spies a black form 
slinking slowly away and after a brief interval Link arises 
and renews his labors on the wire. 

Returning to Thiaucourt he is greeted by the report that a 
Jerry patrol had pierced our lines and had been fired on by 
a regimental lineman. So Link decides he was the hun 
invader and after matching tales with his former antagonist, 
states, "That fellow wears a sharp-shooter's medal. I hope 
the next guy that uses me for a target has no such decora- 
tions — he might hit me." 



We Haven't Forgotten 'Em 

On the roster of our outfit 

There are names unrecognized 
Dimmed somewhat by common habit 

Some not known, while others prized. 
Some of them are discharged 

Some of them came overseas 
Some of them their fame enlarged 

In a Louie's history. 
Those of us who still remember 

Some old transferred pal or friend 
Don't forget, recall that member 

By the list hereunder penned. 
There was Anderson and Swanson 

Forst, and World and Fatty Maule, 
Davidson and Danon, 

Halpern, Gott and Billy Hall. 
There was Geltman, there was Heitman 

Kemper, May and then Watzke, 
Cassidy and Beighley 

Levy, Willey and McGee. 
Hewitt, Hulett, also Harris 

Ruffing, Rona, Moore and Layne 
And that little bit called Dokas 

And that Louie, Jimmie Lane. 
Some Macs we have upon our list 

There's Farland, Crudden, Neill. 
And Schroeder we have surely missed 

And Quackenbusch was real. 
There was Miller H. and Miller M. 

Effenberger, Brooks, and Penn 
And Barto surely was a gem 

We hope to meet again. 
There's Mengel, Menzies, Metcalf, Meyer, 

DeRose, Bolstad and Glaze. 
Of Pine's old chants we'd never tire, 

We've laughed at Crawford's ways. 
Then there's Aldrich and Lee Womack 

Watters, Knutson, and — we're through 
With mentioning comrades held back 

From returning with our crew. 



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V" 



Fire Water 

The men being in bed for the night, room No. 5 was all 
quiet, when Frank Wade entered with a can of water and 
seeing all the boys in such an unusually peaceful frame of 
mind, he deliberately threw the water on him, who was then 
Latrine Orderly, Chester E. Fisher. This man Fisher, not 
being in a very good frame of mind that evening, due to 
the fact that he had only eight fires go out that day and 
four more weeks of latrine orderly work imposed on him 
by our acting C. O., Lieutenant Rittenhouse. Fisher, with 
usual care-free attitude, grabbed a fire bucketful of water 
and a hot race for the stairs followed ; as Wade knew 
fully Fisher's capability at throwing fire buckets, he made 
a special effort to get out of reach, and when Fisher reached 
the top of the stairs Wade was at the bottom and just in 
time to be on the receiving end of part of the bucket of 
water. In order to go into the depths of the matter as to 
where the other part of the bucket of this water went, we 
will have to take you to the bedside of Andy Schroeder who 
was billeted directly under the stairs on the lower floor. At 
this hour of the night, Andy Schroeder was peacefully slum- 
bering, but it was written in the book of Fate that he was 
to be aroused shortly, and he, like Wade, received a shower 
of that which, as we understand at this time, the old cro- 
nies are trying to supercede for pastime beverages. It is 
needless for us to say that Andy Schroeder expressed his 
feelings in loud tones and for sometime afterwards he could 
be heard asking for dry towels and blankets. 



Sure — The Signals Take Prisoners 

'Twas up in the Argonne, and Brooks was working on a 
309th line when he ran upon a wild Boche. Well, in a 
twinkling he had him kamarading. But Heinie's pals were 
distributing miscellaneous junk all about that vicinity just 
at that time and C. W. realized he'd better take cover — 
then he realized he had his prize to look after. Luckily — 
for Brooks — a second lieutenant came upon the scene while 
he, too, was seeking shelter. And Brooks turned his pris- 
oner over to the officer and submerged in a shell-hole until 



the shelling stopped. That's generosity — he, that is Clar- 
ence, renounced all claim to honors for the capture of his 
Jerry. 

Reviews 

Due to the fact that we stood in line for review at Camp 
Dix for many hours in the mud we might mention a few 
words relative to it. Washington said, "First in War, 
First in Peace," etc., but I guess that he did not have a 
signal battalion else he would not mention the first, be- 
cause from vivid memories, we fail to find where we have 
ever been first unless it was at the front, but in parades 
— well, all we can say is that there has to be a tail end, 
and I guess we have been it. However, we sincerely 
hope that we do not go home in parade formation, lest 
the boats fail to wait for us, as every one will recall that 
since the days when Lieutenant Rittenhouse took the 
company out for its morning run, each and every one of 
us has slowed up to a great extent and we might be S. 
O. L. A short time ago we had what we all hoped was 
the last review. It was held at Les Laumes, France, 
and was given for General Pershing. It was there our 
colors received their decorations from the commander-in- 
chief of the A. E. F. It might be mentioned that our 
Major Kelly is an old friend of the commander-in-chief 
and they had a hearty handshake upon their meeting, 
which had been the first in a number of years. 




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BOOMERANGS— the idea is, we "threw" out our work 
and the words commending that work (grouped 
under this head) "boomeranged" back to us. 
Those which made direct hits on us are included, as well 
as those which hit Company C, 303rd F. S. B. more gen- 
erally — more indirectly — frexample, boomerangs which 
hit the division, corps, etc. We have also included two 
interesting expressions from some French folks. 
Our hats are off to the doughboys — they bayoneted 
Jerry, they threw the grenades into his dugouts, they 
grabbed his strongest positions, one after another. But 
we were the nerves of those doughboys and carried 
orders, instructions and information from the brain at 
G. H. Q. to them, the well-muscled, brawny arms, for 
translation into invincible action. 

So we, too, take pride in the approving words of our 
President, the Secretary of War, Marshal Foch, the com- 
mander of the A. E. F., the commander of the first army, 
and so on. 



The signal troops of the division have maintained and 
operated their own lines of communication : telephone, tele- 
graph, radio, visual, runner and courier service and handling 
of pigeons during the period of September 12 to 18 inclu- 
sive. This includes participation in the offensive operations 
of the first corps on September 12 and 13 and the occupa- 
tion of the entire sectors held by the second and fifth divi- 
sions, since their withdrawal from the front line. Enemy's 
artillery has dealt severely with radio and wire communica- 
tion, which has been maintained only by the persistent, 
painstaking and fearless work of the personnel operating the 
division lines. The action of all officers and men of both 



signal troops and line troops connected with the communi- 
cating systems has been commendable and the action of com- 
munication troops in the forward areas in restoring torn 
out lines under fire has been especially commendable. — 
From Lieut.-Col. S. C. Megill, Division S. O., 78th Div., 
September 19, 1918. 



Accept my warmest congratulations on the brilliant achieve- 
ments of the Army under your command. The boys have 
done what we expected of them and done it in the way we 
most admire. We are deeply proud of them and their 
chief. Please convey to all concerned my grateful and 
affectionate thanks. — President Wilson to General 
Pershing, September 20, 1918. 



I submit herewith an appreciation of the work of First 
Lieut. G. J. Sauerhoff, 303rd Field Signal Battalion, and the 
men of his platoon, detailed for duty with this regiment. 
The defense sector assigned this regiment is, undoubtedly, 
the most difficult of any in the division, not only because of 
difficulties of supply, but also because the entire sector is 
continually under heavy enemy artillery bombardment. 
The maintenance of wire communications to the outpost and 
army line battalions has been one of great danger and diffi- 
culty. On only one day out of ten thus far spent in the 
sector have the lines remained unbroken. On several days, 
the lines have been repeatedly severed by shell fire. 
Lieutenant Sauerhoff and his men have continually exposed 
themselves to great danger to repair breaks and reopen 
communication. He has worked without regard to hours, 
day and night. 
I commend him to your consideration should vacancy for 



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promotion occur. — Col. W. C. Babcock, commanding 310th 
Infantry, to Lieut. G. J. Sauerhoff and second platoon, 
Company C, September 25, 1918. 



This record of courage and devotion is the source of great 
pleasure and gratification to the division commander. He 
counts it more than an honor to command such men and is 
gratified to have opportunity to express his appreciation of 
their service. — Maj.-Gen. James H. McRae, Commanding 
78th. Div., regarding Colonel Babcock's appreciation 
above, September 25, 1918. 



It is the high privilege of the division commander to express 
again his satisfaction and pride in the soldierly and devoted 
qualities of the members of this command. 
Under most difficult and trying conditions, the conduct and 
courage of the officers and men has been a constant inspira- 
tion to their commander. This formal and printed order 
is but a poor expression of the deep feeling of the division 
commander, yet in no other way can he reach all. 
The work done by the division has not been spectacular, but 
it has been done at a pivotal point in the line and has been 
watched with approval, not only by the corps and army com- 
manders, but the allied command. 

The following from the commander of the first army is 
published : 

"The army is very much pleased with the persistent, intelli- 
gent and successful work done by the 78th Division in 
clearing up the ridges north of Grand-Pre." 
In the days to come we will do yet more. — Maj.-Gen. James 
H. McRae, October 28, 1918. 



I heard the commander of the first army, Gen. Hunter Lig- 
get, express himself as very much pleased with your intelli- 
gent persistence in pushing operations against the enemy 
in your sector. 

I wish to add to this my high appreciation of the perse- 
verance of yourself, the officers and enlisted men of your 
division in pursuing operations in most difficult terrain and 
under severe conditions, completing the capture of Grand- 



Pre and pushing your line well forward into the Bois de 
Burgogne. Please convey my sentiments to all concerned. — 
Maj.-Gen. J. T. Dickman, commanding first corps, to 
Maj.-Gen. James H. McRae, October 29, 1918. 



Operations begun November 1 by the first American army 
have already assured, thanks to the valor of the high com- 
mand and to the energy and bravery of the troops, results 
of the greatest importance. I am happy to send to you my 
warmest congratulations on the success of these operations. 
■ — From Marshal Foch to General Pershing, Novem- 
ber, 1918. 



On November 1, after constant fighting for over one month, 
the first American army launched an attack against the 
German army which had established itself for determined 
resistance. In five days it had penetrated 25 kilometers 
and had driven the enemy to retreat before it. Its brilliant 
success, in connection with the advance of the fourth French 
army on its left, forced the Germans to retreat on a broad 
front to the west. It has fought and marched and endured 
the rigors of campaign with the utmost superb indifference, 
except the determination to go forward and imprint upon 
the enemy the marks of its courage and resolution. All 
arms and services, those in advance who smashed the way, 
those in the air who rendered aggressive and efficient serv- 
ice, and those in the rear who by their untiring industry 
made possible the continued advance, are worthy of the 
highest praise and the gratitude of their admiring country. 
The army commander is proud of such an army, thanks it 
for the splendid results already achieved and looks with 
confidence to the still greater successes that lie before it. — 
To the first American army from Lieutenant-General 
Liggett, November 5, 1918. 



The commanding general feels that the foregoing praise is 
well deserved by the officers and men of this (78th) divi- 
sion. By their gallantry, fortitude and perseverance in the 
capture of the heights of Grand-Pre, the Bois de Loges, and 
in the subsequent pursuit of the enemy in his retreat to 
Sedan, they merit and are assured of the gratitude of their 



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country. — To the 78th Division A. E. F., regarding the 
remarks of General Liggett above, from Maj.-Gen. 
James H. McRae. 



The enemy has capitulated. It is fitting that I address my- 
self in thanks directly to the officers and soldiers of the 
American Expeditionary Forces who by their heroic efforts 
have made possible their glorious result. Our armies, hur- 
riedly raised and hastily trained, met a veteran enemy, and 
by courage, discipline and skill, always defeated him. With- 
out complaint you have endured incessant toil, privation and 
danger. You have seen many of your comrades make the 
supreme sacrifice that freedom may live. I thank you for 
the patience and courage with which you have endured. I 
congratulate you upon the splendid fruits of victory which 
your heroism and the blood of our gallant dead are now 
presenting to our nation. Your deeds will live forever on 
the most glorious pages of American history. 
Those things you have done. There remains now a harder 
task which will test your soldierly qualities to the utmost. 
Succeed in this and little note will be taken and few praises 
will be sung; fail, and the light of your glorious achieve- 
ments of the past will be sadly dimmed. But you will not 
fail. Every natural tendency may urge towards relaxation 
in discipline, in conduct, in appearance, in everything that 
marks the soldier. Yet you will remember that each officer 
and each soldier is the representative in Europe of his 
people and that his brilliant deeds of yesterday permit no 
action of today to pass unnoticed by friend or by foe. You 
will meet this test as gallantly as you have met the tests 
of the battlefield. Sustained by your high ideals and in- 
spired by the heroic part you have played, you will carry 
back to our people the proud consciousness of a new Ameri- 
canism born of sacrifice. Whether you stand on hostile ter- 
ritory or on the friendly soil of France, you will so bear 
yourself in discipline, appearance and respect for all civil 
rights that you will confirm for all time the pride and love 
which every American feels for your uniform and for you. 
— Gen. John J. Pershing, November 12, 1918. 



After having resolutely held the enemy, you have, for sev- 
eral months, attacked him without respite, with undying 
faithfulness and energy. 

You have won the greatest battle of history and have res- 
cued the most sacred cause — the liberty of the world. 
You may be proud ! 

You have bedecked your flags with an immortal glory. 
Posterity will look upon you with gratitude. — From Mar- 
shal Foch, supreme allied commander, to all ranks in the 
allied forces, November 13, 1918. 



The signing of the armistice and the cessation of hostilities 
brings to an end a great and heroic military adventure in 
which the army under your command has played a part 
distinguished by gallantry and success. It gives me pleasure 
to express to you the confidence and appreciation of the 
War Department and to those who have labored with you to 
make this result possible this appreciation of their zeal, 
courage and strength, both of purpose and achievement. 
The entire country is filled with pride in your fine leader- 
ship and in the soldierly qualities shown by your army. 
Now that a respite has come in the solemn task to which the 
army devoted itself, the War Department will do all in its 
power to expedite the early return of the Expeditionary 
Forces to the United States in order that the country may 
welcome its soldiers home, and in order that these soldiers 
may be restored to the opportunities of civil life as speedily 
as the military situation will permit. I extend to you as 
commanding general of the American Expeditionary Forces 
my hearty congratulations and this expression of high es- 
teem, and I beg you to make known to the officers and men 
of your command the fact that their conduct as soldiers and 
as men has stirred the pride of their fellow countrymen, 
and that their military success has contributed to the great 
victory for the forces of civilization and humanity. — Sec'y 
of War Newton D. Baker, November 15, 1918. 



During all the time this regiment was "in the line" Lieuten- 
ant Olsen and his platoon kept up continuous communication 
between my headquarters and the battalions in the firing 
line. 



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To do this required the platoon commander and his men to 
be on the job all the time, and there was a great deal of 
this time when the wires were being cut so often as to re- 
quire steady patrolling under heavy shell fire. Nevertheless 
the lines were never "out" for more than a few minutes at 
a time. 

On the drive beginning November 1 phone connection was 
kept up with the front line until — and beyond — Beffu. This 
was the only wire communication back for several hours, 
and was made use of by members of the division staff to 
communicate with headquarters. 

In other words, while serving with this regiment, Lieuten- 
ant Olsen has "delivered the goods." — Colonel Morgan, 
commanding 309th Infantry, to Lieutenant Olsen and 
first platoon, Company C, November 15, 1918. 



A Newspaper Clipping 

Two of the national army divisions which saw as hard 
fighting as any units of this organization were made up of 
men mostly from New York or the immediate vicinity. 
These two were the 77th and 78th. The signing of the 
armistice found them fighting side by side. 
Theoretically, the 78th is a New Jersey division, but actually 
about 60 per cent of the personnel is of that commuting 
class which does its working in New York and its sleeping 
only in New Jersey. 

These sons of the Empire City had been on the job in the 
line for a long time, and the men gave a splendid account 
of themselves all the way, enduring the hardship and strain 
as well as some of the units who drew from the farming 
country, where the men are supposed to be more hard. 
The last fight of these two divisions is a good example of 
the sort of thing they have been doing, and the real story 
of that fight has been only touched in the news because of 
other big news in the same hour. 

The 78th, under command of Major-General McRae, and 
supported by its own artillery, the 153rd brigade, under the 
command of Brigadier-General Hearn, took over the sector 
beyond the Argonne, just in front of Grand-Pre and to 



the east on October 14. The 77th went back a few kilo- 
meters for a rest. 

Three times the 78th attacked Grand-Pre and the citadel 
just beyond it, before this strong point of the Boche was 
finally taken. Six times a brigade of the 78th doughboys 
drove through the Bois de Loges, a patch of woods about a 
kilometer square, before it was finally cleared of the Boche 
and so thoroughly fumigated by our artillery fire that it 
was made uninhabitable. 

Both General McRae and General Hearne were compli- 
mented by the corps commander for the persistency and 
courage of the men in carrying out these operations and 
capturing these two strong points. 

The big operation which finally wiped out the Bois de Loges 
and carried the Americans forward forty kilometers was 
started on November 1 with the 77th and 78th sweeping 
ahead, side by side. Just before the big attack the 77th 
was brought up from the rest area, where the men had been 
putting in about six hours a day drilling and put in reserve 
to fill up a gap as the line moved up. Its artillery was put 
in as support with orders not to fire a shot until "H hour." 
Two days before the attack the 153rd brigade fired every 
gun at the barrage rate of 300 rounds per hour for seven 
hours, combing through a great forest on the left flank 
as part of the preparation. 

At zero hour the 78th stepped off from Grand-Pre and in 
front of the Bois de Loges. Machine guns stopped one 
brigade temporarily as these "typewriters" belched their 
spit of death, but a little artillery concentration fixed that 
patch of woods, and the armistice saw the New York boys 
of both divisions once more side by side. — Reprint from 
the Paris edition of the New York Herald, November 21, 
1918. 



It has long been our custom to turn in the autumn of the 
year to praise the Thanksgiving to Almighty God for His 
many blessings and mercies to us as a nation. This year 
we have special and moving cause to be grateful and to 
rejoice. God has in His good pleasure given us peace. It 
has not come as a mere cessation of arms, mere relief from 



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the strain and tragedies of war. It has come as a great 
triumph of right. Complete victory has brought us, not 
peace alone, but the confident promise of a new day as well, 
in which justice shall replace force and jealous intrigue 
among the nations. Our gallant armies have participated 
in the triumph which is not marred or stained by any pur- 
pose of selfish aggression. In a righteous cause they have 
won immortality and have nobly served their nation in serv- 
ing mankind. God has indeed been gracious. We have cause 
for such rejoicing as revives and strengthens us in all the 
best traditions of our national history. A new day shines 
about us, in which our hearts take new courage and look 
forward with new hope to new and greater duties. 
While we render thanks for these things let us not forget 
to seek the Divine guidance in the performance of those 
duties, and Divine mercy and forgiveness for all errors of 
act or purpose, and pray that in all that we do we shall 
strengthen the ties of friendship and mutual respect upon 
which we must assist to build the new structure of peace 
and good will among the nations. 

Wherefore, I, Woodrow Wilson, President of the United 
States of America, do hereby designate Thursday, the 28th 
day of November next, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, 
and invite the people throughout the land to cease upon 
that day from their ordinary occupations and in their sev- 
eral homes and places of worship to render thanks to God, 
the Ruler of nations. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused 
the seal of the United States to be affixed. 
Done in the District of Columbia, this 16th day of Novem- 
ber, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and 
eighteen, and of the Independence of the United States of 
America, the one hundred and forty-third. — President 
Wilson, November 23, 1918. 



And now in this old church, I wish to bid, in the name of 
my parish, a respectful and hearty welcome, to our friends, 
our brothers, the Americans, both officers and soldiers. 
You remember with what overflowing delight we greeted 
here last September the American regiment, recently landed, 



which was billeted among us. With what sorrow, also, we 
saw them depart a few days later. They were the first 
Americans to come to this small town. Their language 
was new and unknown to you, but from the first moment, 
the hearts understood. And when they departed, we felt 
as though some of our family was going away. But they 
had come, as they would say, not to stay, but to go where 
duty called them, not to rest but to fight. Our prayers 
accompanied them from a distance — we mourned over their 
dead. 

Those who are now among us (headquarters company and 
first battalion 311th Infantry) came with the hale and glory 
of the victorious battles they have fought. Many of their 
comrades have fallen on the battlefields : Arras, the Argonne, 
St. Mihiel, Grand-Pre. For several long months they 
struggled on the French soil to gain at last this victory, the 
extent of which has reached beyond our hopes. A hard 
task they achieved, the necessary task. They vied with 
our own soldiers in endurance and gallantry. They have 
a right to rejoice, after having suffered so much. 

My dear parishoners, do not forget what they are and what 
they have done. As you see them walking along your 
streets, or receive them in your homes, show unto them the 
feeling of respect and gratitude to which they are entitled. 

Let your intercourse with them be inspired with the delicacy 
of fraternal hearts. Be careful not to abuse their liber- 
ality. Treat them as beloved brothers who suffered to 
deliver our country and clear away the formidable menace 
which had been for so long a time weighing upon the world. 

Let us share our joy with them, but let this joy be grave, 
serious, as the present conditions require. 

Honor be to our brothers of the great America ! To do them 
honor, I directed that our church should keep its decoration 
of last Sunday. It seems to me that their presence here, 
on this day, still reverberates the echoes of the magnificent 
Te Deum as those vaults had never heard before. 

Look at their glorious flag united with the glorious French 
flag. The same thrilling breath is moving them. It is the 
symbol of the imperishable union of France and America. 



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Honor to the Americans. — Extracts from sermon delivered 
at the church of Flavigny, France, by the Cure, November 
24, 1918. 

The work of the signal corps men attached to our battalion 
was most excellent. 

At no time in the recent campaign was our phone liaison 
with regiment cut off more than a very few minutes. 

Your men manifested an intense desire to keep communica- 
tion open, even under dangerous conditions of shell-fire and 
gas. 

Indeed, we have nothing but praise for the work of your 
men. — Captain Parsons, commanding first battalion, 30th 
Infantry, to Lieutenant Olsen and first platoon, Com- 
pany C, November 24, 1918. 



I wish to state that your men did their best in maintaining 
proper lines of communication, both in the St. Mihiel and 
Argonne sectors. Lack of material prevented at times 
proper means of communication, but the services of the 
men in general were excellent. 

As to individual deeds, I have nothing to mention, except 
that every man connected with the third battalion of this 
regiment fulfilled his duties in a most heroic manner and 
it will be a great task for me to mention any particular indi- 
vidual who had distinguished himself in duty more than 
any other. In fact, all performed their duties with due 
credit to the great nation they represent, to the division, 
regiment, battalion and themselves. 

Your detachment was first in immediate charge of Sergeant 
Morris at the St. Mihiel and Argonne sectors, followed by 
Corporals Nightengale and Terhune. These three N. C. Os. 
were always attentive to their duties, and through you I 
extend to them my thanks and appreciation. — Mat. R. A. 
Segarra, commanding third battalion, 309th Infantry, to 
First Lieut. Harry E. Olsen and first platoon, Company 
C, November 25, 1918. 



It is with a sense of gratitude for its splendid accomplish- 



ment, which will live through all history, that I record in 
general orders a tribute to the victory of the first army in 
the Meuse-Argonne battle. 

Tested and strengthened by the reduction of the St. Mihiel 
salient, for more than six weeks you battered against the 
pivot of the enemy line on the western front. It was a 
position of imposing natural strength, stretching on both 
sides of the Meuse River from the bitterly contested hills of 
Verdun to the almost impenetrable forest of the Argonne ; 
a position, moreover, fortified by four years of labor de- 
signed to render it impregnable; a position held with the 
fullest resources of the enemy. That position you broke 
utterly, and thereby hastened the collapse of the enemy's 
military power. 

Soldiers of all divisions engaged under the first, third and 
fifth corps— the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 26th, 28th, 
29th, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 37th, 42nd, 77th, 78th, 79th, 80th, 
82nd, 89th, 90th and 91st — you will be long remembered for 
the stubborn persistence of your progress, your storming 
of obstinately defended machine gun nests, your penetra- 
tion, yard by yard, of woods and ravines, your heroic re- 
sistance in the face of counterattacks supported by power- 
ful artillery fire. For more than a month, from the initial 
attack of September 26, you fought your way slowly 
through the Argonne, through the woods and over the hills 
west of the Meuse ; you slowly enlarged your hold on the 
Cotes de Meuse to the east; and then, on the 1st of Novem- 
ber your attack forced the enemy into flight. Pressing his 
retreat, you cleared the entire left bank of the Meuse south 
of Sedan, and then stormed the heights on the right bank 
and drove him into the plain beyond. 

Your achievement, which is scarcely to be equalled in Amer- 
ican history, must remain a source of proud satisfaction to 
the troops who participated in the last campaign of the war. 
The American people will remember it as the realization of 
the hitherto potential strength of the American contribution 
toward the cause to which they had sworn allegiance. There 
can be no greater reward for a soldier or for a soldier's 
memory. — Gen. John J. Pershing, December 19, 1918. 



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It is with soldierly pride that I record in general orders 
a tribute to the taking of the St. Mihiel salient by the first 
army. 

On September 12, 1918, you delivered the first concerted 
offensive operation of the American Expeditionary Forces 
upon difficult terrain against this redoubtable position, im- 
movably held for four years, which crumpled before your 
ably executed advance. Within twenty-four hours of the 
commencement of the attack, the salient had ceased to exist 
and you were threatening Metz. 

Your divisions, which had never been tried in the exacting 
conditions of major offensive operations, worthily emulated 
those of more arduous experience and earned their right to 
participate in the more difficult tasks to come. Your staff 
and auxiliary services, which labored so untiringly and so 
enthusiastically, deserve equal commendation, and we are 
indebted to the willing co-operation of veteran French divi- 
sions and of auxiliary units which the allied commands put 
at our disposal. 

Not only did you straighten a dangerous salient, capture 
16,000 prisoners and 443 guns, and liberate 240 square miles 
of French territory, but you demonstrated the fitness for 
battle of a unified American army. 

We apprecite the loyal training and effort of the first army. 
In the name of our country, I offer our hearty and unmeas- 
ured thanks to those splendid Americans of the first, fourth 
and fifth corps and of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 26th, 42nd, 
82nd, 89th and 90th divisions, which were engaged, and of 
the 3rd, 35th, 78th, 80th and 91st divisions, which were in 
reserve. — Gen. John J. Pershing, December 26, 1918. 



Greetings to those in the uniform of the United States army : 
To you who have fulfilled the promise of the nation over- 
seas and you who stood ready in reserve at home I send 
greetings for the new year. The year of 1918 has shown 
what America can do; 1919 will show what America is. 
Your part in the great accomplishments has been a vital 
one. The part you will bear in the days to come will be 
no less important for our country. The process of demobil- 
ization is moving swiftly, in order and in accordance with 



plan. Clearly everything cannot be done at once and pa- 
tience will be needed. Each step must follow the step be- 
fore, and some units will go quickly, while others may be 
held a little longer for reasons that are very real, though 
sometimes not apparent on the surface. As America made 
her power felt more quickly than the foe thought possible, 
so she will return that power to the pursuits of peace with 
all due speed. As you have shared in the pride of the first 
accomplishments, so must your patience aid in the present 
adjustment to new conditions. The privilege of having 
stood in the ranks of the army of victorious democracy 
will be your pride through the years to come. If fortune 
has decreed that only weeks or months remain for you to 
stand in those ranks, instead of bloody years as our allies 
have done, then bear yourselves through the remaining days 
in a way to increase that pride. The best wishes of the 
country for 1919 and all the coming years are yours. To 
these I add my own heartiest good wishes and the confi- 
dence that in the future as ex-soldiers, as you have done 
in the past as soldiers, you will continue to reflect the high- 
est honor on our country. — Sec'y of War Newton D. 
Baker, January 1, 1919. 



The signal corps in France stands out as one of the mas- 
terful accomplishments of the American Expeditionary 
Forces. — Gen. John J. Pershing, January 20, 1919. 



I desire to express to you my deep appreciation of the 
efficient work done by the platoon of the field signal bat- 
talion while on duty with this regiment. As you know they 
came to us while we were in the British area and have 
trained and fought with us ever since. 

During our most trying days in the lines, the men of the 
field signal battalion were always at their posts, never fail- 
ing their duty and ever ready when the call for extra work 
came as it often did in those days in the Argonne forest. 
I want to make special mention of the work of First Lieut. 
Robert Clapp and Sergt. Victor E. Colson. Lieutenant 
Clapp's technical knowledge and his ever willingness to do 
the extra work and keep up our means of liasion gave me 



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great satisfaction and I always felt that the communication 
was safe when in his hands. Sergeant Colson was on duty at 
my P. C, handling message center and outside details, his 
cheerfulness under the most trying conditions and his never 
failing devotion to duty at any hour of the day or night were 
of great assistance to me and to every one with whom he 
came in contact. 

It is with great regret that I see these men go, for I almost 
feel that they are members of my own regiment; but they 
know that they will carry with them the best wishes of this 
regiment and leave behind remembrance of a work efficiently 
and cheerfully done. — From Col. M. B. Stokes, command- 
ing 311th Infantry, January 26, 1919. 



It is indeed a pleasure to transmit the above most excellent 
letter of commendation to the officers and men of the 303rd 
field signal battalion. Only the absolute loyalty, highest 
sense of responsibility, strictest attention to duty, the willing 
co-operation of all, and the fearless execution of their work 
under the most trying circumstances made the excellent re- 
sults obtained possible. Kindly transmit my sincere con- 
gratulations and appreciation to all officers and men of your 
company. — Mat. M. A. Looseley, commanding 303rd F. S. 
B., January 31, 1919. 



The commanding general desires to extend his sincerest 

congratulations to you and the members of your show, for 

the most successful and excellent entertainment. 

He fully appreciates the difficulties under which you labored, 

but the success which you attained should partly reward you 

for your efforts. 

The spirit and enthusiasm which you and the members of 

your troupe displayed in giving entertainment to your broth- 

ers-in-arms is that fine spirit for which this first corps is 

noted. 

Again, I wish to thank you and to ask you to extend my 

personal thanks and appreciation to all members of the 

troupe. — From Major-General Wright, commanding first 

corps, to Captain Conley and the battalion show troupe, 

February 18, 1919. 



Now that active operations have ceased, I desire to con- 
gratulate the officers and men of the signal corps in France 
on their work, which stands out as one of the accomplish- 
ments of the American Expeditionary Forces — the result of 
a happy combination of wise planning and bold execution 
with the splendid technical qualities of thousands of men 
from the great commercial telephone, telegraph and elec- 
trical enterprises of America. It is a striking example of 
the wisdom of placing highly skilled, technical men in the 
places where their experience and skill will count the most. 
Each army, corps and division has had its full quota of 
field signal battalions which, in spite of the serious losses 
in battle, accomplished their work, and it is not too much 
to say that without their faithful and brilliant efforts and 
the communications which they installed, operated and main- 
tained, the successes of our armies would not have been 
achieved. 

While the able management of the directing personnel is 
recognized, it is my desire that all members of the signal 
corps who, regardless of long hours and trying conditions 
of service, have operated and maintained the lines, shall 
know that their loyalty, faithfulness and painstaking care 
has been known and appreciated. In the name of the Amer- 
ican Expeditionary Forces, I thank them one and all and 
send to them the appreciation of their comrades-in-arms 
and their commander-in-chief. — Gen. John J. Pershing, 
February 19, 1919. 



The chief signal officer desires to add to the above an ex- 
pression of his own sincere appreciation of, and his hearty 
congratulations on, the skillful and successful performance 
of their work in the American Expeditionary Forces, which 
has resulted in the signal corps personnel of these forces 
collectively and individually receiving such unstinted and 
unusual praise from their commander-in-chief — Brig.-Gen. 
E. Russell, C. S. O., A. E. F., February 19, 1919. 



On August 16, 1918, the fourth platoon of your company, 
consisting of sixty-eight enlisted men, was reported by its 
commanding officer, First Lieut. Leroy N. Suddath, to the 



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312th Infantry, then at Habarcq, France, for duty. It was 
immediately attached to the headquarters company of that 
regiment. The platoon came to us complete in personnel, 
well organized, and well trained in so far as time had per- 
mitted. 

Extensive training for all units of the division still con- 
tinued, however, except, of course, when troop movements 
interfered, and the signal units were far from being an 
exception. For the purpose of greater unity, co-ordination, 
and more systematic instruction, the field signal platoon and 
the infantry platoon were trained as one. In many cases 
the members of the former group were more technical and 
consequently assisted the infantry men to a very consider- 
able degree in their training. This system of training as one 
platoon was employed throughout, and even used during the 
activity while in the front line areas. Some time previous 
to our going into the lines each platoon sent a specified 
quota to each of the three battalions. From the fourth 
platoon twenty-six men remained with regimental head- 
quarters, while thirteen men went to each battalion. 

Of the service rendered by the signalmen, both in the Limey 
sector and in our part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, I 
cannot speak too highly. In both sectors it was necessary 
to re-establish, practically anew, telephone systems. In 
both sectors communication was maintained only by con- 
stant patrolling and repairing, always to be done during 
heavy shell fire. Notwithstanding this, the construction and 
maintenance were done, and completed quickly and effi- 
ciently. Your men were to a large extent responsible for this. 
I wish particularly to mention the exceptional services ren- 
dered by Master Signal Electrician Davis, who was left in 
charge of the platoon as we were entering the Argonne 
forest. Electrician Davis' technical ability and his untiring 
and able leadership were noted at all times, especially while 
in the Grand-Pre sector. Nor will we ever forget the well- 
trained and efficient services of Sergeant Lauffenburger as 
superintendent, Corporal Ashton as telephone operator, 
Corporal Wiltse, and Privates Coffland, Jackson, O'Kane 
and Kroencke ; in fact, I must say that every man was in 
the game from start to finish. 



The regimental commander has on frequent occasions com- 
plimented the work of the signalmen of your company very 
highly. It is with great pleasure that I send this note as a 
simple expression of appreciation of the services rendered 
by the members of the fourth platoon. — Capt. Stanley D. 
Chapin, 312th Infantry, to fourth platoon, Company C, 
March 3, 1919. 



In compliance with telegraphic instructions from G. H. Q., 
A. E. F., the 78th division stands relieved from this army 
on April 6, 1919. 

The 78th division, joining the first army on August 30, 1918, 
participated in the following operations of this army : 

St. Mihiel Operation 
The 78th division participated in this operation first as a 
reserve of the first corps, and later by holding the Limey 
sector. 

While holding the Limey sector, the 78th division partici- 
pated in several local engagements and the demonstration 
of September 26. 

Meuse-Argonne Operation 
The 78th division, having been relieved from the Limey 
sector, joined the army reserve in the Meuse-Argonne sector 
on October 5. On October 15 to 16 and 17 the 78th 
division relieved the 77th division along the southern banks 
of the Aire River facing Bois de Loges and Grand-Pre. 
Between October 15 and 31 this division executed continu- 
ous attacks against the difficult and strongly-held terrain of 
Bois de Loges, Grand-Pre and east of Talma Ferme. The 
heights east of Talma Ferme and Grand-Pre and the heights 
to the north thereof were captured by hard fighting, which 
included several "hand to hand" engagements. 
The division participated in the army's general attack No- 
vember 1, advancing between that date and November 5, 
approximately twenty kilometers, and through the localities 
of Bricquenay, Boult aux Bois, Chatillon sur Bar, Brieulles 
sur Bar, Les Petities Armoises to the heights east of Tannay. 
The army commander desires to convey to Major-General 
McRae (commanding the 78th division) and the officers and 
soldiers of the 78th division, his appreciation of the excel- 



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lent services rendered by this division as a combat unit of 
the first army. The army commander and the army greatly 
admired the tenacity and aggressiveness of the troops and 
the leadership of General McRae and his subordinates of 
the 78th division during the hard and continuous fighting 
which resulted in the capture by the 78th division of the 
heights east of Talma Ferme and of Grand-Pre. 
The 78th division, in leaving the army, carries with it the 
best wishes of the army commander for its future abroad 
and in the United States. — From Lieutenant-General 
Liggett, commanding first army, March 27, 1919. 



It gives me great pleasure to extend to you, the officers and 
men of the 78th division, my sincere compliments upon their 
splendid appearance at the inspection and review on the 26th 
of March. I wish also to take this opportunity of express- 
ing my appreciation of the high morale existing throughout 
all ranks, and my satisfaction at the condition of the horse 
transport and artillery. All ranks should take just pride 
in such a commendable showing, as well as in the credit 
of service in France, which stands to their credit. 
Arriving on June 8, the division trained with the British 
Expeditionary Forces for two months, and in August was 
moved into the American sector, acting as a reserve for the 
first corps in the St. Mihiel offensive from the 12th to the 
16th of September. It was then placed in the front line, 
relieving the second and fifth divisions, and remained in 
the Limey sector with the fourth corps of the first United 
States army until October 4. During this time the division 
kept up continuous aggressive patrolling until its relief 
from the line. On the night of October 15 to 16 it relieved 
the 77th division and thereafter remained in the Meuse- 
Argonne offensive until November 5. The names of Grand- 
Pre and the strong position of Bois des Loges, whose final 
reduction came only after a succession of desperate assaults 
and counterassaults, will always be remembered in the his- 
tory of the American Expeditionary Forces. On November 
2 the division occupied the Bois des Loges and thereafter 
made a rapid advance of over 21 kilometers, during the 
course of which the towns of Beffu et le Mort Homme, 



Bricquenay, Boult-aux-Bois, Belleville-sur-Bar, Germont, 
Authe, Brieulles-sur-Bar and Verrieres were occupied. In 
view of this record, I want every man in the division to 
know of my appreciation of his work. 

Please therefore extend my congratulations to the members 
of your division, who may proudly carry home with them 
the gratitude of the allies with whom they fought and the 
pride of their fellows throughout our forces. — Gen. John 
J. Pershing, to Maj.-Gen. James H. McRae, April 13, 
1919. 



G. H. Q. 

American Expeditionary Forces 

General Orders No. 38A „ „ , 00 imn 

France, February 28, 1919. 
My Fellow Soldiers: 

Now that your service with the American Expeditionary 
Forces is about to terminate, I cannot let you go without 
a personal word. At the call to arms, the patriotic young 
manhood of America eagerly responded and became the for- 
midable army whose decisive victories testify to its efficiency 
and its valor. With the support of the nation firmly united 
to defend the cause of liberty, our army has executed the 
will of the people with resolute purpose. Our democracy 
has been tested, and the forces of autocracy have been 
defeated. To the glory of the citizen soldier, our troops 
have faithfully fulfilled their trust, and in a succession of 
brilliant offensives have overcome the menace to our civili- 
zation. 

As an individual, your part in the world war has been an 
important one in the sum total of our achievements. 
Whether keeping lonely vigil in the trenches, or gallantly 
storming the enemy's stronghold; whether enduring monot- 
onous drudgery at the rear, or sustaining the fighting line 
at the front, each has bravely and efficiently played his part. 
By willing sacrifice of personal rights ; by cheerful endur- 
ance of hardship and privation; by vigor, strength and in- 
domitable will, made effective by thorough organization and 
cordial co-operation, you inspired the war-worn allies with 
new life and turned the tide of threatened defeat into over- 
whelming victory. 



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With a consecrated devotion to duty and a will to conquer, 
you have loyally served your country. By your exemplary 
conduct a standard has been established and maintained 
never before attained by any army. With mind and body 
as clean and strong as the decisive blows you delivered 
against the foe, you are soon to return to the pursuits of 
peace. In leaving the scenes of your victories, may I ask 
that you carry home your high ideals and continue to live 
as you have served — an honor to the principles for which 
you have fought and to the fallen comrades you leave be- 
hind. 

It is with pride in our success that I extend to you my 
sincere thanks for your splendid service to the army and 
to the nation. Faithfully, 

John J. Pershing, Commander in Chief. 



At the moment when the terrible slaughter has come to an 
end, thanks to the devoted aid of great America, permit 
a simple French woman to express her gratitude and ad- 
miration for the country which has saved us. I know with 
what sublime abnegation, with what disregard of danger, 
those brave children delivered us from the Boche at the 
time when they were so near Paris. One of my nephews 
told me about it. He said there were ten thousand Ameri- 
cans who fought like lions. They made a rampart for us 
that stopped the Boche reaching Paris. 
And, also, when I see all that you are doing for us, all the 
orphans you are adopting for which you got no thanks from 
the French government. When I see the merchants who, 
because you are Americans, charge you three times the value 
of things, and even food, without any thought of the self- 
imposed sacrifice you are making with open heart for us, 
you may be sure that there are times when a true French- 
man is ashamed to be one. 

What must you think ! I am speaking to you as a person 
who has suffered greatly mentally and spiritually from the 
war, and who will suffer after it. 

Before leaving France, please remember that there are peo- 
ple who esteem and admire you and will never forget what 
you have done for their native land. 



I visit the cemetery every week to greet those who have 
fallen so valiantly in defending us and I am really grieved 
not to be able to strew all their graves with flowers. 
Pardon me for writing this; I am but expressing all my 
feelings. — A letter from a French lady to the editor of 
Stars and Stripes, official American Expeditionary Force 
publication. 



A Clipping from the Newark Evening News 

THE part played by the Lightning Division in the 
war is the subject of an article in the Newark News 
of January 1, by Miss Cecil I. Dorrian, a staff cor- 
respondent of the New Jersey newspaper. Miss Dorrian 
visited the 78th Division at Semur, from where the story 
is sent. The article, which takes up four pages of the 
News is a vivid account — for the most part accurate — 
of what the 78th did since leaving the States. The 
face of victory herself has not been much harder to 
find in this war than have the faces of the boys of the 
78th Division since they left Camp Dix under 
the command of General J. H. McRae and came to 
France. Until I managed, after a general hunt of three 
months and a hot chase of five days, to join them here in 
the heart of France, no one from the outside world has 
reached them — no newspaper chronicler has written a 
word of their great campaign. 

This unkind and entirely accidental fate has been unfor- 
tunate because the truth is that this division has become 
one of the most distinguished of all the troops that have 
come to France. 

It is doubtful if a half-dozen people know it, but it was 
the 78th Division of civilian soldiers of New 
Jersey and New York who captured Grand-Pre and the 
Bois des Loges on the Argonne front, and thus broke 
through the Kriemhilde line, the pivot of the German 
defense. 

In the German communique of November 3, we may 
remember reading the following statement: "The Ameri-' 
cans have penetrated our lines and forced our withdrawal 



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from the Kreimhilde positions." The Americans referred 
to in this communique were the men of the 78th Division. 
For this act they were given two special mentions, one 
by General Dickman, Corps commander, the other by 
General Liggett, chief of the First Army, "for great 
courage in taking Grandpre." 

The actual capture of the town and citadel was done by 
Newark's Own Regiment, the 312th Infantry, under 
Colonel Anderson, on October 25 and 26. Their action 
here went hand in hand with the splendid fighting of the 
311th Infantry (of Trenton and South Jersey), under 
Colonel Stokes, who, by the capture of Talma Hill and 
the heights called the Burgundy Nose, west and north 
of Grand-Pre flanked the position and made it possible 
for the Newark boys to make a dash for the Grand-Pre 
citadel. For these achievements General McRae is very 
proud of his men, and his men all tell you that there is 
no general like theirs and none so fearless. 

When we recall that these places were considered by 
French military experts to form the strongest points in 
the German line and that the crack here precipitated the 
end of the war, we will begin to realize, though at first 
but dimly, what part in the world struggle the New Jer- 
sey men have played. 

Among the first of the National Army soldiers to start 
out for the battlefields of France, the New Jersey troops 
sailed on May 19 and 20 from a number of different 
United States ports (Philadelphia, New York, Boston), 
but mainly from Halifax, Nova Scotia. One of the Hali- 
fax ships carried the Headquarters Staff and the H. Q. 
Troop. Tiflis ship had something more to report than 
merely rough weather in crossing. Their route lay very 
far to the north among the ice fields. On June 2 they 
approached the Irish coast and at about 6 o'clock in the 
evening, as they were assembling for mess, they suddenly 
felt a violent trembling of the ship and heard a dull 
boom ! They looked at each other. A few seconds 
later the vessel trembled again like a house in an earth- 
quake and the muffled roar of a second explosion was 
heard. 



Lieutenant MacCaffery, of the Headquarters Intelligence 
Section, who described this entry of our division into the 
war arena, said that at the second shock the men quietly 
left their places, went out on deck and took up their al- 
lotted positions beside the lifeboats. There was no bust- 
ling, no confusion. 

Unaccustomed to the niceties of submarine warfare the 
men naturally expected to see the ship begin to fill and 
sag. But they soon found that the shocks had not been 
the result of torpedoes hitting the ship, but of depth 
bombs thrown by the ship at a submarine which had 
been maneuvering to get a shot at her. A depth bomb 
is a terrific affair, and when it explodes it sets the entire 
seascape to rocking. 

As the men stood by their boats they had a chance to 
see in panoramic form the whole curious drama of the 
submarine war which had been raging behind the cur- 
tain for over two years. They saw their British convoy 
ships standing by. They watched the little destroyers 
appear as from nowhere in an incredibly short time. Some 
of them that were a mile away made the ship's side in 
one minute thirty-two seconds. Observation balloons 
floated over the scene. Great geysers heaved up out of 
the ocean's blackness as the depth bombs exploded. Soon 
the battle was over, and one, perhaps two, submarines had 
met the horrible fate that they deserved. 

The 78th Division landed in three different English 
ports : Liverpool, Southampton, London, from about 
May 30 to June 8. These were the days when the 
Germans were smashing their way down past the Chemin 
des Dames and through the Marne pocket toward Paris. 
Time pressed and our men did not stay nearly as long 
in England as did those of many other divisions that went 
before and that came after. The 311th Regiment, for 
example, landed in Liverpool on May 31 and the next 
day they were marching up the sand dunes behind Calais 
I imagine that is a record of transportation speed. I am 
told that the longest time any of the units spent in Eng- 
land was four days. They stayed in Calais for only a 
few days of "rest." Oh ! Those God-forsaken places on 



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the dunes. "Old England's Restless Camps," as sings 
a new division song. Thence they entrained and went 
down behind the British front to Hazebrouck. A divi- 
sion of troops is a mighty thing to move. Do you know 
that it takes twenty-eight French trains of fifty-one cars 
each to transport a division of men with its baggage? 
They thought themselves well out of Calais for that place 
was being mercilessly bombed every night at about one 
time. The men came out of their huts on the hills when 
10 o'clock came and watched the dastardly show, the 
searchlights looking wildly around the skies for the 
coming raiders, the lightning of the guns, the splash of 
giant bombs, the fires, red glares and silence. They were 
seeing enough to show them that they had arrived at the 
war, but as yet it had not touched them. 
Their own entry into the raid area came a few days later 
when they went down to St. Pol, behind Arras, to go 
into training in British training camps, with British in- 
structors. Here the Germans air-raided them every 
night, dropping tremendous bombs. Many of the men 
who have been through the hardest fighting at the front 
will still tell you that these air raids at St. Pol were the 
worst feature of the war. This chaos of death and noise 
in the darkness when you stand defenseless seemed such 
a mean situation. 

During their period of training in the fields back of 
Arras they had mock battles among trenches, and were 
brought up to date on all the latest dodges of British war 
methods. From time to time groups of them went into 
the real trenches with the Australians out in front of 
Arras. It was here that Lieutenant Mitchell of the 309th 
went across No Man's Land with some Australians on 
a reconnaissance of pure devilment, such as the Aus- 
tralians themselves were noted for, and single-handed, 
took a German machine gun and killed its crew. This 
was the same man that represented the division at the 
bayonet practice exhibition of the military show held at 
Madison Square Garden before the division sailed. 
It was during these days of training and nights of raids 
that Lieutenant Colonel Edward S. Hayes, chief of the 



operations section, H. Q., first began to distinguish him- 
self. His personal investigations of the front line, his 
good cheer when the bombs were dropping earned him 
the name among the men of "Le Bon Colonel," and wher- 
ever you go among the troops now you hear his name 
mentioned — and his absence regretted. For this gallant 
officer lost his arm in the later fighting and is now in the 
hospital. On August 19, just as two battalions of the 
division were about to lead the way for the rest into the 
line in front of Arras to have a period of active training, 
they received orders to move to the American front. 
What was up? They did not know. They did not care. 
They felt almost as if they were going home, for they 
were going to an ail-American section of France. Twenty- 
eight trainloads of happy men pulled out of the Picardy 
mists and the desolate northern fields of many battles, 
passed through the torn-up Marne salient, headed south- 
east through pleasant lands that had not been spoiled by 
war and were unloaded in the province of Haute Marne at 
Bourbonne-les-Bains, Chatillon-sur-Saone, and other 
places in the vicinity. Here they had a little comfort, 
not much, but it was the first they had had, and it seemed 
considerable. The days were pleasant, the world was 
good. And they had American chow once more. Here 
the troops had some more training, intensive, get-ready 
stuff. Some of the officers had days at the staff college 
at Langres. It was evident that something was up, and 
they figured that they would soon be seeing something 
of the war close-to. 

It was not long in coming. On September 9 and 10 they 
began to move forward. They went past places, the 
names of which will grow more and more familiar to 
Americans as the years go along, through Jeanne D'Arc's 
country, Neufchateau, and on to Toul. After that the 
real thing began. They climbed into those big French 
blue camions that have gained laurels with the dusty 
Poilu in the annals of war, and driven by Chinese drivers, 
they rolled out on the long white roads toward the front. 

You know what happened on September 12. That was 
the day of the first American offensive, at St. Mihiel. 



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Our division arrived on the hills behind the line in time 
to see the kickoff of that fight. They could hear the hub- 
bub of it, the greatest roar of artillery that had ever been 
let off yet in France. Then they marched up as the line 
advanced. They crept forward at night through the 
forests, and they will tell you that they never knew how 
dark night could be till then. It was raining, and they 
could have no lights and no fires and no hot food. 

In the black hours before dawn of September 14 they 
crawled forward and took the line, relieving the 5th 
Division. And there they were, in the war. They were 
in the sector from Xammes to Vieville-en-Haye, near 
Thiaucourt. 

The way these new troops, who had never had any active 
experience, effected the relief of the line, advancing in the 
thick darkness in a country that they knew only on the 
map, and settled down under particularly sharp fire from 
the high ground of the Hindenburg line opposite, won 
them the compliments of the corps commander. The staff 
work was excellent, he said, the steadiness and discipline 
of the troops perfect. That was a good beginning for our 
civilian soldiers. 

We will not stop for details here as this is simply a gal- 
loping account of where the division has been since it 
left Camp Dix. What the regiments have done and who 
were the men who figured, form another story that will 
come hurrying along after this one. 

The 78th held the Thiaucourt sector from Sep- 
tember 14 to October 5. That is a long stretch under 
any conditions, and when you think that this was their 
first entry into the war the length of these days is some- 
thing to be put down to the great credit of the division. 
During these three weeks they withstood heavy German 
counter attacks, made raids on a large scale, advanced 
their positions locally, and on the 26th of September 
made a demonstation to resemble an offensive. This 
was the day of the opening of the great drive on the Ar- 
gonne front and the intention was to puzzle the Ger- 
mans as to where the real push was to be made. 



In general, the work required of the division on the 
Thiaucourt front was to hold on and not to advance. 
On October 5 followed some memorable days — that is, 
nights. For it is well to recall pointedly, now and then, 
that this was principally a night-time war. Thoroughly 
tired out and strained with their first rigorous experience 
in the line, dirty, exhausted with lack of rest and with the 
long spell without hot food, they started out for a forced 
march of fifty miles, through the mud, in the cold rain and 
the blank darkness across the base of the St. Mihiel 
salient, towards the Argonne. 

All the men speak of that march. They will never forget 
it. When they got a few minutes' halt for rest they fell 
right down where they stood, even if it was in a river of 
mud or a pool of water, and sank into a dead sleep. The 
trundling artillery, the staff cars, the baggage lorries, the 
field kitchens, passing the marching troops in the chaotic 
darkness along that ragged, narrow road that had been 
tossed by shellfire and traffic until it had a surface like 
that of the Whirlpool Rapids all gave to the imagination 
the tinge of nightmare. 

One staff car nearly crashed into an artillery limber that 
had skidded across the road. The officer in the car, whose 
nerves were a bit frazzled along the edges by fatigue, 
re-acted to the shock of the collision by crying out to the 
officer commanding the limber (who was Lieutenant De- 
vinne, himself attached to the staff), "Why don't you 
get that limber out of the road? You ought to be in 
jail !" 

"Jail !" muttered the lieutenant, wistfully. "I wish I was 
in jail!" 

Two or three nights of this and another long "bus" ad- 
vance, that is, in lorries, and they arrived in Clermont, on 
the eastern fringe of the Argonne Forest. Here they had 
two whole days of rest, with a chance to take their clothes 
off — for the first time in a month — and get a bath. The 
156th Brigade, including the 311th and 312th Regiments, 
was called upon to make another long march forward to 
be on hand for a possible counter attack. The 155th 
Brigade (309th and 310th Regiments) followed. 



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From the 10th to the 15th of October they were in 
reserve behind the Grand Pre front. On the 15th they 
took over the line from the 77th Division, and their 
front extended from Grand-Pre to St. Juvin, roughly 
along the Aire River. 

Here, as the division historian tersely put it, "hell broke 
loose." 

Although the 77th Division thought they had taken 
Grand-Pre, and it had so been announced the day 
before, the 78th found the town entirely occu- 
pied and strongly fortified by the Germans when they 
took over. They managed to get a foothold only 
in two or three houses at the end of the main street. 
The taking of the town and citadel was all before 
them. The Germans had no intention of yielding this 
key position without putting up the strongest fight that 
they knew how to wage. At this time they were not 
yet beaten. Lille had not fallen. The center was only 
in the vicinity of the Chemin des Dames, while the Ger- 
man pivot positions from the Argonne to the Meuse were 
still holding. It was thought possible that the Germans 
were going to settle on a new line for the winter. 
Two weeks later, when, by as heroic and bitter fighting 
as has taken place at any time during the war, the 
78th Division smashed through the pivot of Grand- 
Pre, the Bois des Loges, the Burgundy Wood, and, re- 
gathering itself for another spring, launched a final blow 
on the Germans, the hun ran, a chase set in, and a few 
days later the war was over. The final blow north of 
Grand-Pre, after the fall of the citadel, was delivered on 
November 1. Before dawn on the 3rd the Germans, 
seeing the game was up, turned and headed for Germany. 
Without rest, without food, without equipment or 
blankets, the doughboys picked up and dashed after 
them. Twenty-four kilometers north they hurried, fight- 
ing the Boche out of rearguard positions. 
The 42nd Division, the Rainbows, were coming up to 
relieve the 78th. They could not catch them. The Ger- 
mans had turned the roads upside down, thinking that 
would delay their pursuers. But the engineers hurried 



up and did incredible stunts in hole mending and tem- 
porary bridge building. The doughboys were far ahead. 
They waited for no transport. They were hungry, cold, 
coatless, exhausted. But they did not notice it. They 
hurried on. 

On November 5 the 42nd caught up, and the event 
is referred to in division circles as the time when 
the Rainbow caught the Lightning. The commander of 
the Rainbow's first unit to arrive exclaimed : "I was 
ordered to leap-frog you and to take the line, but how 
could I when I couldn't catch you?" 

The 78th had reached Tannay, a small place on the west 
bank of the Meuse, about opposite Stenay. This place is 
called "Finis la Guerre for the 78th." They did not know 
then, however, that the guerre was finis. They only knew 
they had earned their rest. They had given the hun a 
wholesale drubbing, and they were going back, back to 
some quiet place where they could sleep, and perhaps 
dry out a little and get a bit warm, and — have something 
to eat. 

They trudged down along the road to Bricquenay, and 
those who saw those muddy doughboys passing through 
will never lose the picture from their memory. So tired 
that they staggered rather than walked, their eyes dazed, 
their uniforms torn and wet, caked in mud to the shoul- 
ders, their faces stained, their chins stubbly, their tin 
hats pushed back from their foreheads, they looked up 
at their general, who stood to watch them and they 
smiled. Some of them carried strange souvenirs. One 
had an old plug hat he had found in an empty house. 
Another trundled a battered baby carriage full of pre- 
cious war junk together with some bread discovered in 
an abandoned Boche bakery. In voices muffled with 
fatigue they bandied jokes and laughed. They had 
chased the hun and they were going back to rest. The 
rain kept on, the mud splashed, the guns were rumbling 
and the machine guns sputtering. Nothing mattered. 
They were going back to rest. 

A few days later a frivolous rumor passed along from 
line to line of the marching troops. Some one had said 



page one hundred five 



ffl@ 



^SERVICE 



/UK 



RECORD 



that the war was over and an armistice had been signed. 
What was the use of starting these silly rumors? No 
one paid much attention to them. 

Toward night as they were approaching St. Meneholde 
they saw an alarming, if spectacular, show in a neighbor- 
ing valley. There were some American troops there and 
they were raising a tremendous hullabaloo. They were 
shooting guns, sending up rockets, star shells and flares, 
popping machine guns and tossing hand grenades. 
Surely there must be a riot. The 78th thought they 
probably would be stopped and sent down to restore 
order. But they weren't. Then the rumor started again, 
the rumor about the armistice. And the ingenious rumor 
spreader added that the riot in the valley was a peace 
celebration. They wondered if such a thing could be 
true. The idea got hold of them a little and as dusk 
came on some one started singing the "Long, Long 
Trail." They were almost too tired to sing, but still the 
air was taken up here and there and it wandered thinly 
down the line. 

When they got into St. Meneholde they found it was 
true. The Germans had quit. The thing had been 
signed. The war was over. 

The 78th were too tired for any gaudy celebra- 
tions. They stood around talking about it in a dazed 



sort of way, but somehow it seemed incredible. Peace 
was too large an idea to take in until at least after having 
one long sleep. So they fell into their billets. And while 
we sang and danced and shouted in the cities, they slept. 
Meanwhile some of their officers went into a little steep- 
roofed tavern in St. Meneholde and there by chance hap- 
pened to see a group of old bent figures gathered around 
a wooden table over a bottle of wine. They were veter- 
ans of 1870 celebrating the victory of 1918. When they 
saw the Americans enter, covered with mud and fresh 
from the war, it seemed to them to fit the occasion mira- 
culously. They invited our men to join them, patted 
them on the back, gave them some wine, and they drank 
to the day together. 

A few days later the 78th entrained and were 
taken down to one of the most picturesque corners of 
old France, in the Cote d'Or, north-west of Dijon, with head- 
quarters at Semur. 

That is where they are now as I write. They are busy 
getting themselves together, cleaning up, looking around 
for old chums in other units — finding some and missing 
many others, learning what the rest did in the great 
fight, beginning to hear that they are a brilliant division 
and that honors are to come to them. 

New Jersey can be very proud of her sons. 




page one hundred six 



SERVICE 




^Kv 



RECORD 



>**> 

M 



AS YOU 



GRAVIES 
AT YOUR GROCER'S 




NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 

First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 




2-29-8 

3-24-8 

11-19-7 

10-22-8 

10-25-8 

2-24-8 

10-23-8 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 

5-22-8 

2-24-S 

2-23-8 

2-24-8 

10-20-8 

10-11-7 

12-10-7 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

1- 5-9 
2-24-8 

2- 1-8 
2-24-8 

10-14-8 
2-24-8 
5-16-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
3-24-8 
3-24-8 

10-22-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

11- 1-7 

11- 1-7 


1- 1-9 
4- 1-8 

Discharg 

12- 1-8 
3- 1-9 

Discharg 

Transfer 
12- 1-7 








10-17-8 
2- 5-9 


12-22-8 
Died 2-11-9 


Albertson, E. E., 205 Baker St., Mt. Vernon, Wash . . 


12- 1-8 
ed, S. C. D. 






2-4-8 




Aldrich, Everett S., 352 W. Van Buren St., Battle Creek, 








Alexander, Kenneth B., Newbern, Va 












ed, S. C. D. 

red to 28th 


4-6-8 
Division, 








Andrews, Chas. F., Mermaid and Stenton Aves., Chestnut 
Hill, Philadelphia, Pa.. . 


April, 1919. 






Arms, Percy J., 1936 Swatava St., Harrisburg, Pa 








Died 2-19 

pany A 




Ashton, Leon W., Collingswood, N. J 


6- 1-8 

6- 1-8 
To Depot 
To 309th 


8- 1-8 


Transfer 


red to Com 








Brigade. 
Infantry. 


5-5-8 
5-1-8 
























Billings, James R., Smithville, S., Nassau Co., N. Y 

Billings, John H., 1828 Benson Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.. . . 


12- 1-7 


1- 1-8 
4- 1-8 

Killed. 


3- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

10-24-8 


12- 1-8 






Gas.10-20-8 




6- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

As Serge 

6- 1-8 

8- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

As Corpo 

6- 1-8 

8- 1-8 

To B. Co. 

12- 1-8 

12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

3- 1-9 

4- 1-8 
To 310th In 

5- 1-8 
12- 1-7 

2- 1-8 






Black, Clifford R., R. F. D. No. 2., Sheldon, N. D 

Black, William, 189 Jefferson Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y 

Blair, George M., Sandy, R.D. No. 4, Salt Lake Co., Utah 
Blair Robert T 54 Oak St Yonkers N Y 




Gas.10-20-8 




ant First 


Class. 


































Bleam, Arthur L., 216 Highland Ave., Trenton, N. J 

Blomgren, Iver L., 615 N. Green St., Ottumwa, Iowa.. . . 


ral. 




























Bluto William W 8 Union St Hudson N Y 


11-18-7 


To C. Co. 


10-4-8 


As Corp. 




Bobinsky Paul A 2809 V St Omaha Neb 




Bock, Arthur W., 107 Wainwright St., Newark, N. J, 
Bockmann, Emil 0., 489 S. 6th St., Newark, N. J 








10- 4-8 
10-11-8 


10-28-8 
12-24-8 




























f. 5- 1-8 
To Co. B. 
7- 1-8 












10-14-8 

8- 1-8 




6- 30-8 
10-14-8 




Brady, George L., Seneca Falls, N. Y 


To Co. B. 


/To Co. C. 
\ 1- 4-9 

















Page one hundred seven 






^SERVICE 



ylK 



RECORD 






NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 

First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Brenna, Norman L., 2720 10th Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 
Brennan, Robert C, 112 N. 5th St., Newark, Ohio 


2-24-8 

11-13-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

11-13-8 

12- 9-7 

2-22-8 

2-24-8 

4-26-8 

2-24-8 

11-10-8 

11-13-8 

9-24-8 

11- 1-7 
2-24-8 

12- 3-7 
10-25-8 

5-16-8 

12- 6-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
4-15-8 

12- 5-7 

10-25-8 

10-14-7 
2-24-8 
3- 1-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
1- 9-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
5- 8-8 

10-25-8 

11- 1-8 
2-24-8 

12- 9-7 
2-23-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

10-20-7 
11-19-7 


Trans 
1- 1-9 

4- 1-8 

5- 1-8 

3- 1-9 
To Depot 

6- 1-8 

4- 1-8 

5- 1-8 
8- 1-8 


ierred. 


8-8-8 














12- 1-8 










Brooks, Clarence W., 620 18th St., Oakland, Calif 

Brooks, James R., 122 Plum St., Montgomery, Ala 

Brooks, John H., 17 So. Water St., Westfield, N. Y 

Brown, LaForest V., 34 High St., Cambridge, Mass 




















Brigade. 
12- 1-8 


5-10-8 






















Brown, Raymond G., 323 Magnolia Ave., Alden, Pa 








Died 1-8-9 












Rrttnftti Tohn 600 N Wells St Chicaeo 111 












Bucey, Charles D., 205 Washington St., Fairmont, W. Va. 


4- 1-9 
As Corp. 

2- 1-8 

5- 1-8 

6- 1-8 


















10-14-8 




Burke, Forrest A., 628 S. 57th St., Philadelphia, Pa.. . . 
Bitrnap Leroy N 132 Ninth St Trov N Y 


8- 1-8 
















Burns Luke E 210 Ford St Rochester N Y 


12- 1-8 




















Byron, Earl, 1002 E. Enterprise St., Springfield, 111 

Cain Leo C 912 W Mill St Ithaca N Y 
















Cook 2-1-8 






9-17-8 




Campbell, O.'j., 1020 2nd Ave., No. Fargo, No. Dak 

Part son T A Grafton N D 


6- 1-8 
4- 1-8 
To Depot 
12- 1-8 








12- 1-8 

Brigade. 












5-17-8 








Chamberlin, Edw. F., 10 Melrose Ave., E. Orange, N. J. . 


















Clapp, Robert H., 523 W. 113th St., N. Y. C 

Clark, Charles J., 923 S. Main St., Kalispell, Mont 

Cleary, Anthony H., 724 Saratoga St., E. Boston, Mass.. 


3- 4-8 

5- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

7- 1-8 

4- 1-8 
4- 1-8 
6- 1-8 


Discharged 


to Accept 


Commissio 
















Hospital 












Clutts, Clay A., 203 Woodland St., Nashville, Tenn 


8- 1-8 


9- 1-8 


To Co. B. 














12- 1-8 
Cook 4-1-8 

12- 1-8 
6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 










Colberg, George A., 112 E. Baker Ave., Wildwood, N. J.. 










6- 1-8 
4- 1-8 
4- 1-8 


4- 1-9 








Colombo, Michael A., 546 Clinton St., Brooklyn, N. Y. .. 

Colson, Victor E., 3537 W. Beach Ave., Chicago, 111 

Colville, Walter W., 35 Eldorado PL, Weehawken, N.J. 

Conolly, John J., 105 Ashford St., Brooklyn, N. Y 

Cosgriff, James A., 2217 E. 68th St., Cleveland, Ohio. . . . 








12- 1-8 

1- 1-8 


5- 1-9 

8- 1-8 






5- 1-9 


M. S. E. 


6- 1-8 
1- 1-9 

As Private 

6- 1-8 
Discharge 














First Class 
















10-25-8 


Yes 


Crawford, LeRoy J., Jefferson St., Buffalo, N. Y 


d S. C. D. 
7- 1-8 


3-15-8 










Croscup, Everett J., 615 River St., Mattapan, Mass 


8- 1-8 
11- 1-7 

Discharge 
1- 1-8 






Wounded 




1- 1-8 

d S. C. D. 

4- 1-8 


5- 1-8 

11-6-7 
6-1-8 






Danon, Samuel J., 20 E. 116th St., New York City 

Darmody, Arthur F., 64 Mulberry St., Newark, N.J 





















page one hundred eight 



^SERVICE 



7aK\ 



RECORD 






NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 
First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Davis, Theodore E., 208 W. 54th St., New York, N. Y. . 
Davidson, Arnold B., Parkersburg, W. Va 


10-11-7 
10-14-7 

3- 7-8 
2-24-8 

10-22-8 
10-20-8 

11- 1-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

12- 8-7 
4-29-8 
5- 1-8 

11-10-8 
10-25-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
3-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 
10-11-7 

5-20-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

11-19-8 

10-20-S 

11-23-7 

2-24-8 
3-10-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-22-8 
6-14-8 
2-24-8 

4- 1-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 
10-11-7 


10-11-7 

Transferred 
4- 1-8 


11-16-7 

toQ.M. C. 
9- 1-8 


1- 1-8 
1-16-S 


3- 2-8 


M.S.E. 




Day, William P., Brookside, Pa 








Dearden, Arthur, 390 Eighth St., Troy, N. Y 

Dejon, William P., 34 Patrick St., New Haven, Conn.. . . 
Delaney, Arthur G., Keating, Clinton Co., Pa 






Died 4-18-8 














12- 1-8 

As Corp. 

To 311th 
5- 1-8 
5- 1-8 

To Med.De 












Denzler, William, 334 E. 66th St., New York City 

DeRose, Domenico, 222 Washington St., Spokane, Wash.. 

Devine, Thomas, 708 Third Ave., Grand Porks, N. D 

Ditmer, Carl, care of Mrs. Ruth Wilson, Grafton, N. D. . . 
Dokas, Konstantinos, St. Louis, Mo 


To Co. B. 

Infantry. 


12-1-8 

5-1-8 


























10-16-8 




pt. 5- 2-8 
11-20-8 

7- 1-8 








Dore, Thomas G., 55 E. 6th St., Oswego, N. Y 










Dotson, Samuel C., Lewisburg, W. Va 


6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 






10- 4-8 

9-28-8 


10-28-8 


Douglas, Frank C, Ellensville, N. Y 






Drach, Dudley J., 1358 W. 112th St., Cleveland, Ohio... . 
Dunstan, Thomas, 4423 W. Seattle St., Seattle, Wash 

Edgcumbe, Merton W., 110 Kingston St., Rochester, N. Y. 
Effenberger, Alie J., Nehalem, Ore 












10-20-8 










3- 1-8 
To Depot 

7- 1-8 
To 155th 

4- 1-8 
12- 1-7 

12- 1-8 
10-11-7 

9- 1-8 
12- 1-8 
12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 






Flu. 1-1-9 




Brigade. 


5-10-8 






Ehlers, John J., 21 Park PL, Morristown, N. J 




10- 8-8 


11-14-8 


Einson, B. B., 643 Lenox Ave., New York City 


Brigade 
5- 1-8 


Headquart 


ers. 

6- 1-8 


Elliott, Leroy J., 208 E. Pico St., Los Angeles, Calif 

Ensminger, George S., Evergreen Ave., Morristown, N. J. 

Eros, Joseph, 2809 V St., Southside, Omaha, Neb. . 

Evans, Samuel H., Y. M. C. A., Los Angeles, Calif 

Farnam, Earl L., Pawnee, 111 




/Wounded 
1 10-20-8 




























Flu. 
2- 6-8 




Felger, David G., Johnstown, N. D 










Fersky, Sol. J., 4516 William St., Cleveland, Ohio 

Fink, Luther D., Eccles, W. Va 




















Finn, Samuel J., Coffeen St., Watertown, N. Y 


7- 1-8 


9- 1-8 








Finnegan, Ralph M., 2021 A. E. O'Lear St., St. Louis, Mo. 
Fisher, Chester E., 451 14th St., Buffalo, N. Y 










5- 1-8 

4- 1-8 

6- 1-8 


7- 1-8 
5- 1-8 




12- 1-8 


/To Co. B. 
\ 10-14-8 


/To Co. C. 
\ 1- 9-9 


Fitz, Henry L, Peconic, N. Y 




Flannery, Thomas J., 40 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Newark, N. J. 
Fleming, Fred U., Alpena, S. D 










5- 1-8 
12- 1-8 










Flom, Theodore, Gary, Norman Co., Minn 


3- 1-8 

6- 1-8 
12- 1-8 

7- 1-8 
To Depot 
12- 1-8 










Flood, Harry E., 75 Reservoir St., Cambridge, Mass 
Fohrell, Elmer H., 1115 Second St., Edwardsville, 111.. . . 
Foote, William E., Elberta, Utah 






Gas 10-18-8 


















9-23-8 


12- 1-8 


Forst, Raymond C, Trenton, N. J 


Brigade. 


5-24-8 




Freeman, Albert J., Havana, Fla 








Furth, Alphonse J., 319 New York Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Gagliardi, Joseph, 421 Main Ave., Spokane, Wash 

Gallichio, John A., 2853 W. 20th St., Coney Island, 
Brooklyn, N. Y 


3- 1-8 






/ Hospital 
\ 10-3-8 


4- 9 


12- 1-8 
12- 1-7 






12- 1-8 






Gas 10-20-8 













page one hundred nine 



^SERVICE 



y28S\ 



RECORD 






NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 
First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Garber, Frederick W., 610 Elkins Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 

Geltman, Louis, 546 E. 180th St., New York City 

Gervasi, Vincenzo, Tarrytown, N. Y 


10- 1-7 
12-15-7 
10-11-7 
10-11-7 
3-24-8 
2-24-8 

10- 2-8 
2-24-8 
2-10-8 
5- 5-8 

11- 1-7 
10-22-8 

2- 1-8 

11-30-7 
2-24-8 

10-11-8 

10-11-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-20-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
5- 1-8 
2- 1-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 

10- 4-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-8 

1-11-9 

11- 1-7 

11-19-7 

12- 8-7 
4- 1-8 
2-23-8 

12- 3-7 
10-11-7 
10-22-8 
2- 1-8 
12- 3-7 

10-30-7 


12- 1-7 
Discharge 
To Suppl 
To Suppl 
10- 1-8 

9- 1-8 
12- 1-8 
To Med. 
To A. 

1- 1-9 


4- 1-9 
d S. C. D. 
y Detach, 
y Detach. 










2-19-8 

11-18-7 

11-18-7 














Giannotta, Pasquale, Kensington, Conn 








Gibson, George E., 745 Bay St., Rochester, N. Y 

Gigliotti, Eugenio, 928 S. Shalto St., Chicago, 111 

Gilbert, Roy, White Rock, S. D 




2- 6-8 






















Glaze, James B., Spokane, Wash 


Dept. 
M. C. 


5-2-8 








Gott, Sanford J., 491 S. Goodman St., Rochester, N. Y. . 

Gray, Alfred E., 90 Pullman Ave., Rochester, N. Y 

Greene, Harold I., 248 Central Ave., West Hoboken, N. J. 












Gas 












12- 1-8 
6- 1-8 












Gumbrecht, John, 402 New York Ave., Jersey City, N. J. 

Habel, Edward G., 19 Woodside St., Rochester, N. Y. . . . 
Hagie, Wayne R., Marion, Mont 








/Wounded 
\ 10-24-8 

ergeant 




Cookl-16-8 
6- 1-8 

d S. C. D. 
d S. C. D. 


8-1-8 
8-1-8 

3-23-8 
12-14-7 


Mess S 
4- 1-9 








Hall, William J., Perm. R. R., 4th and Front Sts., Long 
Island City, N. Y 


Discharge 

Discharge 

6- 1-8 

9- 1-8 

11- 1-9 

12- 1-8 
12- 1-7 
To Depot 

4- 1-8 
8- 1-8 
2- 1-8 

5- 1-8 
12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 






















Hammett, Charles L., Cairo, Ga 








2- 5-9 


Died 2-12-9 


Harmon, Artemas H., 24 Orange St., Portland, Me 

Harmon, Elvas E., Eldon, Iowa 


















Harpell, Albert E., 29 Burnett St., Newark, N. J 

Harris, Gordon L., Irving-On-The-Hudson, N. Y 

Harvey, James E., 158 Myrtle St., Brockton, Mass 

Haselwood, Alfred V., Tecumseh, Okla 








10-22-8 


12-20-8 


Brigade. 


5-14-8 




















Hasson, Arthur P., 128 W. 109th St., New York City.. . 
Hawkinson, Axel B., Box 77, Crompton, R. I 


4- 1-8 
6- 1-8 


4- 1-9 

12- 1-8 








4- 1-9 






Hayzler, Emil, Schuyler, Nebr 














Wounded 
2-6-9 
School. 




Heider, Roy W., Watervliet, Mich 








2-20-9 
12-27-7 


Heitman, Alfred W., 98 Romaine Ave., Jersey City, N. J. 

Hennessey, Joseph A., 51 Canonburg Road, Jamaica, 

Long Island, N. Y 


11-16-7 

d 2-21-9 

8- 1-8 

10-14-8 

8- 1-8 
4- 1-9 
Train. 
6- 1-8 


To Officers 


Training 


Transferre 
6- 1-8 

To Co. A. 
2- 1-8 
5- 1-8 
To San. 
2- 1-8 
1- 1-8 


Herlan, Harry, 125 Madison St., Oneida, N. Y 


12- 1-8 








Herr, Lawrence F., 10 Commercial Ave., Binghamton, 
N. Y 








Heslink, Walter D., 314 Babcock St., Buffalo, N. Y 

Hess, Thomas F., 275 Walnut Ave., Trenton, N. J 

Hewitt, Michael D., Otisco St., Syracuse, N. Y 


4- 1-9 














5- 1-8 








Hills, Ralph M., Friendship, N. Y 








Hildebrandt, Geo. R., 39 Lincoln Ave., Ocean Side, N. Y. 
Hirleman, Fay, Houghton, S. D 










4 -1-9 
5- 1-8 










Hobcroft, Edward C, 1375 Lyman PL, New York City. 
Hogan, Hugh E., 75 North Ave., Oswego, N. Y 


M. S. E. 


Trans 


f erred. 










Holmberg, John M., 79 Huntington St., New Brunswick, 
N.J 


2- 1-8 

























page one hundred ten 



^SERVICE 



7m& 



RECORD 



tins' 



NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 
First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Hornberger, Walter J., 392 Glenwood Ave., Buffalo, N. Y. 

Houston, Edward B., 119 N. 6th St., Newark, N. J 

Howell, Edward N., Kirksville, Mo 


1-10-8 
3-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
10-11-7 
10- 4-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

12- 6-8 

12- 3-7 

2-24-8 

4-15-8 

10-25-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

11-24-8 

4-27-8 

10-11-7 

4-21-8 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

2-22-8 

2-24-8 

4- 4-8 

4-15-8 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 

10-11-7 

10-25-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
10-11-7 
10-11-7 
12- 3-7 










Gassed 




6- 1-8 
4- 1-8 
12- 1-8 
12- 1-7 
12- 1-8 
To Depot 
6- 1-8 

2- 1-8 

Sergeant 










5- 1-8 


6- 1-8 


8- 1-8 


To O.T. C. 


10-28-8 


Howorth, Earl G., 1192 Pavone St., Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Hughes, John D., 570 W. 191st St., New York City 
Hugunin, Wallace R., 1908 Harrison St., Davenport, Iowa 
Hulett Roy M 132 9th St. Troy N. Y. 


2- 1-8 


3- 1-8 














Brigade. 


5-17-8 












Died 2-20-9 

Gas.10-20-8 
5-17-8 




Jackson, Ernest G., 208 Niagara St., Niagara Falls, N. Y. 










First Class. 
6- 1-8 


To 4th S 
12- 1-8 


ervice Co. 
4- 1-9 








Jacobson, Samuel, 438 So. Park St., Elizabeth, N. J 

Johnson, George W., 2560 Benninghofen Ave., Hamilton, 
Ohio 


12- 1-8 

4- 1-9 
6- 1-8 
11- 1-7 
10- 1-8 
10- 1-8 
10- 1-8 




























Johnson, William G., Port Royal, Pa 


1- 1-8 
12- 1-8 


4- 1-8 


4- 1-9 


Gassed. 

Gassed. 
2- 5-8 
2- 5-9 

Gassed. 

Gassed. 




Johnson, William S., 384 High St., Benton Harbor, Mich. 








3- 1-8 












1- 1-8 


3- 1-8 

2- 1-8 

4- 1-9 


5- 1-8 




Kahaly, Arthur T., 656 Broadway, New York City 

Kaufman, William, 1357 Odell St., New York City 
Keenan, Patrick J., 219 W. 66th St., New York City 






10-11-7 

4- 1-9 

6- 1-8 

12- 1-7 

12- 1-8 

To Co. A. 


1- 1-8 












8- 1-8 


12- 1-8 








Kelly, John I., P. O. Box 1216, Drumright, Okla 

Kelly Joseph A 802 Linden St Camden N J 








4- 1-9 
11-18-7 




















Kempner, David D., 251 W. 92nd St., New York City. . . 
Kenlon, Edward C, 142 S. 12th Ave., Mt. Vernon, N. Y. 


11-16-7 


To O.T. C. 


12-27-7 
Gas.10-10-8 




7- 1-8 
3- 1-8 
6 -1-8 


8- 1-8 

4- 1-9 

12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 


















Kilbourn, William M., 1104 Kossuth Ave., Utica, N. Y. 
















Gas.10-20-8 




King, Franklin G., 2 Schwartz St., Rochester, N. Y 

Kinsella, Christopher A., 686 Bergen St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 


11- 1-8 










6- 1-8 






Flu. 
/Killed 
\ 10-18-8 














10-11-7 

1- 1-9 
6- 1-8 


1- 1-8 


3- 1-8 


6 -1-8 




Krider, Charles E., 1402 Catalpa St., Parkland, Louis- 








4- 1-9 

Deserted 

4- 1-9 












4-27-8 










10-11-7 
1- 1-8 

To Camp 
4- 1-8 




Gassed. 




Lane, James H., 446 Peffer St., Harrisburg, Pa 

Lane, James M., Jr., 1270 73rd St., Brooklyn, N. Y 

Langford, Frederick R., 558 3rd St., Niagara Falls, N. Y. 








Lee, Va. 


5-24-8 

























page one hundred eleven 



%f> 



SERVICE 



y^Sx 



RECORD 



NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 

First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Larenitis, Leland P., 1232 Organ Ave., Ft. Wayne, Ind... 
Larkin, Frank C, 80 4th St., Newark, N. J 


2-24-8 

10-22-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

11-13-8 

10-11-7 

12-26-7 

1-10-8 

5-10-8 

10-11-7 

5-22-8 

10- 6-8 
3-20-8 

10-22-8 
4-20-8 
2-24-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 

2-22-8 

11- 1-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
3-26-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
5- 1-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
2- 1-8 
3-14-8 

10-11-7 
9- 9-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 




4- 1-9 
4- 1-9 
4- 1-8 




















Lauffenburger, Joseph E., Buhl, Idaho 




6- 1-8 


12- 1-8 


/ M. S. E. 
X 4- 1-9 


/ Flu. 
\ 1- 8-9 


Lawrence, Francis D., East Hampton, L. I., N. Y 

Layne, Elmer F., Quinlan, Okla 




To Depot 


Brigade. 
12- 1-8 


5-10-8 








Leas, Oran C, Green City, Mo 








Lee, Arthur L., 1608 Mississippi St., La Crosse, Wis 

LeFrancis, Fred E., Clarkston, Wash 




















Died 2-20-9 
11-17-8 
10-13-8 




Lennon, William J., 470 W. 153rd St., New York City. . 

Leo, Thomas W. J., 412 W. 55th St., New York City 

Levy, Adolph, 123 E. 108th St., New York City 


4- 1-8 










4- 1-8 

al Corps 

graphic Sc 
1- 1-8 








To Medic 

To Photo 

11- 1-8 
6- 1-8 

12- 1-8 
6- 1-8 

12- 1-8 
To Depot 

5- 1-8 

12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 








Liles, Joseph M., care of Julius L. Liles, R. F. D. No. 1, 
Wendell, N. C 


hool, Paris 
5- 1-8 








Lincoln, Leroy S., 51 Highland Ave., Uniontown, Pa. . . . 
Lipman, Theodore E., 1300 Bushnell St., Beloit, Wis 
Livingston, Adam L., Mabton, Wash 


12- 1-8 






Gas.10-10-8 












Loftus, William J., 225 S. 10th St., Newark, N. J 

Longo, Joseph E., Bunkie, La 


8- 1-8 


















Louser, John L., 418 No. 5th St., Lebanon, Pa 


Brigade. 


5-24-8 








Ludy, Harry E., 424 9th St., Benton Harbor, Mich 

Lusareto, Marcelino, Sweetwater, Nev 




/Wounded 
\ 10-21-8 












Lyons, Henry J. D., Henderson, W. Va 












MacCormac, George H, 155 Mansfield St., New Haven, 
Conn 




6- 1-8 




10-23-8 




MacDonald, Matthew P., 74 Garden St., S., Manchester, 










Maguire, Matthew S., 390 8th St., Troy, N. Y 


6- 1-8 
3- 1-8 

6- 1-8 


9- 1-8 










Malone, John R., Mansfield, Wash 










Marion, James E., Harrison, N. J 












Martin, Aloysius, 555 Woodland St., Trenton, N. J 

Maule, Charles P., South Omaha, Nebr 












To Depot 


Brigade. 

6- 1-8 

Brigade. 


5-10-8 








Maxwell, Lucan M., 58 W. 36th St., New York City. . . 
May, Austin B., Green City, Mo 








To Depot 
8- 1-8 


5-14-8 








Mazurek, Frank W., 490 Berlin St., Buffalo, N. Y 

McCabe, Earl R., Venice, 111 




11-26-8 

Gassed. 


12-10-8 








McCann, Francis T., Verona, N. D 


6- 1-8 

11- 1-7 

9- 1-8 

To Depot 
To Depot 


12- 1-8 
1- 1-8 
4- 1-9 

Brigade. 
Brigade. 








McCarthy, Jeremiah J., 221 E. 124th St., New York City. . 
McCready, Earl, Clifford, Mich 


















McCrudden, John J., New York City 


5-24-8 
5-14-8 
6-1-8 








McFarland, Joseph A., Philadelphia, Pa 








McDaniels, Homer A., Hillsdale, N. J 




Gassed. 




McGary, Bert, 155 Russell Ave., Akron, Ohio 

McGee, Guy F., Osgood, Mo 


12- 1-8 








4- 1-8 
Brigade. 

ed to 80th 


5-1-8 
5-10-8 


6 -1-8 


ToO. 


T. C. 


McGee, John F., Kalispell, Mont 

McGillis, John, Edmore, N. D 

McKendrick, Edward H., 1 High St., White Plains, N. Y. 


To Depot 

Transferr 








12- 1-8 





















page one hundred twelve 






^SERVICE 



Jfil\ 



RECORD 



NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 
First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


McMahon, Henry F., 551 Broadway, Pawtucket, R. I.. . . 
McManus, Mark D., 1253 Arapahoe St., Los Angeles, Calif. 


2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 

3-10-8 

2-24-8 

2- 8-8 

4-15-8 

11-19-7 

5-17-8 

11-12-7 

10-11-7 

2-10-8 

1-30-9 

2-24-8 

10-25-8 

11-19-7 

5-17-8 

10-11-7 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2- 1-8 
10-11-7 
6- 1-8 

11- 1-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 

10-22-8 
5-24-8 
2-24-8 

10- 4-8 

11-13-8 
5- 2-8 

2-24-8 
3-26-8 

12- 3-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

11-13-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 


12- 1-8 


















Gassed. 
Gas.10-18-8 
















To Depot 


Brigade. 
4- 1-8 
To Headq 


5-10-8 






McPhee, Cole, 43 Liberty St., East Waterbury, Conn 

Meaney, John M., 195 Woodlawn Ave., Jersey City, N. J . 

Mellen, Frank 0., 98 Marcy Ave., E. Orange, N. J 

Menaker, Frederick E., Perth Amboy, N. J 




Gas.10-23-8 
To Co. C. 




6- 1-8 


uarters Co. 


4-1-8 


12-1-8 


3- 1-8 

To Depot 

To Camp 

M. S. 

To S. C. 












Mengel Leo S 


Brigade. 
Kelley, Te 
E. to O. 
Radio Scho 


5-20-8 
xas. 
T. C. 
ol. 5-11-8 








Menzies, George A 


12-12-7 
7-26-8 






Merril, Dudley R., 1654 E. 9th St., Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Metcalf, Franklin R 










Meyer, Charles A 








Meyer, Frank K., 3012 Clay St., San Diego, Calif 

Michaels, Max, 613 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. . 




4- 1-8 

First Class 

6- 1-8 

10-14-8 


8- 1-8 








As Private 

1- 1-8 
To Co. B. 












8-27-8 




Miller, Burton R., 53 Mary St., Binghamton, N. Y. . 

Miller, Horatio, 411 Boulevard, Westfield, N. J 

Miller, Martin J., 3235 Bainton Ave., N. S., Pittsburgh.Pa. 

Millington, John, Jefferson St., Follansbee, W. Va 

Mohr, Harold 0. 101 Sixth St., Wilmette, 111 








11-16-7 

xas. 


ToO. 


T. C. 


12-26-7 


To Camp 
6- 1-8 

10-11-7 
6- 1-8 


Kelley, Te 








2- 1-8 


6- 1-8 


12- 1-8 


M. S. E. 


4- 1-9 


Moll, Frank E., 2041 E. Penna. Ave., Warren, Pa 

Mooney, Daniel W., 1040 E. 27th South St., Salt Lake 
City, Utah. 


Cook 3-1-8 
4- 1-8 

geant. 
geant. To 

10- 1-8 
poral 

adquarters 
12- 1-8 

First Class 
6- 1-8 
8- 1-8 










Morris, Everett J., 2221 Evans Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. . . 
Mowers, William W., Alloway, N. J 




6- 1-8 


4- 1-9 


Wounded 




As Ser 
As Ser 




Moore, Melvin S., 31 New York Ave., Ocean Grove, N. J. 
Murnane, Cornelius J., Westville, N. H 


O. T. C. 
To Co. B. 


12-27-7 
12-1-8 










Murray, James J., 499 E. 138th St., Bronx, N. Y. C 

Nasdeo, Anthony, 345 Water St., N. Y. C 

Nelson, Emil, North Cape, Wis 


As Cor 

To He 
5- 1-8 

As Private 
To Co. A. 






Co. 11- 1-8 














Nelson, Fred E., 8057 Throop St., Chicago, 111 

Nicolai, Jack F., 301 W. 21st St., New York City 

Nightingale, Walter T., Waldwick Ave., Waldwick, N. J. 






















Died 11-1-8 




12- 1-8 

As Private 
12- 1-8 

Horse 
6- 1-8 
2- 1-8 








Norman, William H., Sta. A. R. F. D., New Orleans, La.. 
Norton, Earl R., 22 Delaware Ave., Hudson Falls, N. Y. 

Oakes, Ray H., Woodstock, Vt 

O'Brien Hugh J., 406 Center St., Trenton, N. J 


First Class 


















Shoer. 
12- 1-8 
12- 1-8 
12- 1-8 


















O'Donoghue, John G., Box No. 557, Dunellen, N. J 

O'Kane, James F., 569 Broadway, Pawtucket, R. I 


















5- 1-8 
As Cor 

4- 1-9 

6- 1-8 

6- 1-8 






Gas. 3-12-8 
/M. S. E. 
\ 6- 1-8 






poral. 




2- 1-8 


/Wounded 
\ 10-16-8 


Olson, Axel G., 220 S. 2nd St., Lindsburg, Kans 

Olson Oscar K., Box No. 2, Brocket, N. D 







































page one hundred thirteen 



®w 





^SERVICE 



70S 



RECORD 



v* 
M 




^Hw 



NAME AND ADDRESS 



Entered 
Company 



Pvt. 

First 
Class 



Corporal 



Sergeant 



Sergeant 
First 
Class 



Casualties 



Returned 

to 
Company 



O'Neill, William E., 373 East Ave., Pawtucket, R. I. . 

Organ, Albert M., 8 Waydell St., Newark, N. J 

Padien, James R., 276 Carrol St., Paterson, N. J 

Page, Claude E., Green City, Mo 

Parker, Charles A., 146 W. Grand St., Rahway, N. J. 
Pattison, Earl C, 40 Washington Ave., Pleasantville, N. Y. 

Paur, Frank E., Pisek, N. D 

Penn, Delbert H 

Peterson, Anthony, 265 Maple St., Perth Amboy, N. J. . 
Petterson, Ernest A., 79 Locust Ave., New Dorp, S.I., N.Y. 

Philliber, Thomas E., Benton Harbor, Mich 

Pils, Louis C, 892 E. 94th St., Brooklyn, N. Y 

Pine, Cleo., Joplin, Mo 

Poier, Frederick, Osmabrook, N. D 

Priestley, Oscar, Blackstone, Mass 

Presley, Leander, Hawkpoint, Mo 

Protine, Philip D., Hulbert Court, Libertyville, 111 

Quackenbush, Kendrick, Union Springs, Minn 

Quinn, William J., 12 Elizabeth St., Worcester, Mass. . . . 

Rector, Orville R., 1315 Iranistan Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. 
Reilly, Vincent B., 143 River Ave., Providence, R. I. . . . 

Remmes, Joseph T., Andover, Mass 

Rice, Charj.es E., 1510 S. 5th Ave., Minneapolis, Minn . . 

Roark, Earl D., 1053 Alki Ave., Seattle, Wash.. 

Roberts, George H., 5733 Franklin Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. 

Robins, Donald H., Cleveland, Okla 

Romberger, George C, 7545 Norton Ave., Los Angeles, 

Calif 

Rona, Oscar M. A., 78 Sherman St., Passaic, N. J 

Rook, Jack S., 221 Palmer St., Union City, Tenn 

Rouse Glenn F., Washington, Iowa 

Roy, Armand L., 1 Cohasse St., Southbridge, Mass 

Ruch, George A., 14926 Cardinal Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. . 

Ruffing, Philip E., Paterson, N. J 

Rutstein, Irving R., 239 Lincoln St., Wilkesbarre, Pa 

Sanford, Harry C, 205 Lafforte Ave., Syracuse, N. Y. . . 
Sams, Herman L., Lewiston, Mont., Box 1738 

Sauerhoff, George J., 9 5th Ave., Haddon Heights, N. J. 
Saunders, Harold, 52 Kermit Ave. N. E., Buffalo, N. Y.. 

Sawyer, Henry R., 4053 E. 44th St., Cleveland, Ohio 

Schmitt, William S., Troy, 111.. 



2-23-8 

1-15-8 

3-28-8 

2-24-8 

12-13-7 

4- 1-8 
2-24-8 

5- 1-8 
2-24-8 
3- 3-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

2-22-8 

5- 5-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
10-22-8 
11-13-8 
2-24-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

11-13-8 

12-15-7 

9- 2-8 

2-24-8 

2- 1-8 



12-19-7 
2-24-8 

12-20-7 

12- 6-7 

2-24-8 

5-19-8 



4- 1-8 
3- 1-8 



6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 



9- 1-8 
4- 1-9 



4- 1-9 



To Co. B. 
10-14-8 



'To Co. C. 
i 1- 4-9 



5- 1-8 
10- 1-8 



To Depot 
12- 1-8 
6- 1-8 



Cook. 
Brigade. 



10-21-8 



5-17-8 



To Depot 
5- 1-8 



Brigade 
Cook 1-1-9 



11-16-7 
5-10-8 



Gassed. 
Wounded. 



6- 1-8 
12- 1-7 



Hospital. 
Hospital. 



To Depot 



Brigade. 



5-14-8 



9- 1-8 
6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 

3- 1-8 
12- 1-8 

As Cor 

4- 1-8 

4- 1-8 
To Medi 



Hospital. 



9- 1-8 
12- 1-8 



12- 1- 



4- 1-9 



poral. 



4- 1-9 



4- 1-9 
cal Dept. 
4- 1-9 



5-2-8 



Gassed. 
10-12-8 



12- 1-8 

To Depot 



12- 1-8 

Brigade. 



5-17-8 



Killed 
10- 8-8 



1- 1-8 
4- 1-8 

To Officers 
1- 1-8 



2- 1-8 
8- 1-8 

Training 



6- 1-8 



12- 1-8 



Wounded, 



Camp. 



12-26-7 



8- 1-8 



Died 
2-24-19 



page one hundred fourteen 



^SERVICE 



j9HK 



RECORD 



V 
V 



NAME AND ADDRESS 


Entered 
Company 


Pvt. 

First 
Class 


Corporal 


Sergeant 


Sergeant 
First 
Class 


Casualties 


Returned 

to 
Company 


Schneider, William J., 98 Watson St., Buffalo, N. Y 
Schroeder, Andrew A., Albany, N. Y. . . 


4-29-8 

10-11-7 

2-24-8 

5-17-8 
5- 1-8 

4- 8-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
5-20-8 

12- 3-7 
10-25-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
10-22-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
10-25-8 
2-24-8 

9- 1-8 

12- 3-7 

2-23-8 
3-25-8 

10-22-8 
2-24-8 
3-25-8 
2-24-8 

10-11-7 

2-21-8 
3-15-8 
3-25-8 
3-24-8 

10-11-7 
10-29-7 


6- 1-8 

As Sergt. 


12- 1-8 

To Depot 
4- 1-8 

12- 1-8 










Brigade. 
4- 1-9 


5-12-8 






Schuler Frank J., Waterville, Wash.. 


/Wounded 
\ 10-16-8 




Schumacher, Fred R., 251 Front St., Binghamton, N. Y. . 

Seerota, Harry, 1919 S. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pa 

Sharp, Everett C, 5813 Cedarhurst St., W. Philadelphia, 
Pa 


7- 1-8 














8- 1-8 
8- 1-8 












Shelley, Richard, Story, Wyo. . . 








10-20-8 

Gassed. 
/ Gassed. 
\ 10-20-8 




Shibla, Vernon, H. St., Belmar, N. J 










Simon, Ralph E., 131 Latrobe Ave., Chicago, 111 


7- 1-8 

1- 1-8 
12- 1-8 

6- 1-8 
4- 1-8 
1- 1-9 

6- 1-8 


4- 1-9 

5- 1-8 








Sinclair, Harold B., 264 Clinton Ave., Newark, N. J. . . . 

Slocum, Irwin J., 1233 7th Ave., Fort Dodge, Iowa 

Smestad, Ingdor C. G., care of Mrs. George Gilbertson, 


6- 1-8 


















Hospital. 




Smith, Alvin 0., Lady Smith, Wis 


5- 1-8 


8- 1-8 






Smith, Philip A., 124 W. 5th St., Grand Island, Neb 
Smith, Sayle E., 302 W. 7th St., Fairfield, 111.. 








9- 1-8 
4- 1-8 










Smith, William A., Antelope, Ore 






/Wounded 
\ 10-16-8 
Gassed. 




Stark, Clyde E., Bloom, Kans 










Staub, Orlo W., Mansfield, Wash 

Steele, Norman L., Goshen, Utah 


6- 1-8 

6- 1-8 

7- 1-8 
6- 1-8 




















Sundet, John J., Fleming Minn. 


4- 1-9 










Swan, Arthur O., Genda Springs, Kans 

Swanson, Martin W., Minneapolis, Minn 

Swanum, Peder, Fleming, Minn 

Taylor, Daniel O., 7405 Lawn Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. . . . 

Taylor, Tracy P., State Line, N. Y 

Templeton, William E., 587 Linden Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Terhune, William C, Pennington, N. J 

Terry, Clyde A., 240 N. St., Francis St., Wichita, Kans. . 

Todd, Carl B., Osgood, Mo 

Tompkins, William H., 33 Griffith St., Salem, N. J 

Toupin, Emil L., 106 Maple Ave., Congress Park, 111 

Turner, Hugh H., Avondale, Pa.. . 






10-17-8 


12-22-8 










6- 1-8 






Gas. 10-20-8 




12- 1-8 










6- 1-8 




Acci- ] 
■i dentally \ 
{ Shot J 


8-12-8 


8- 1-8 
6- 1-8 
3- 1-9 
6- 1-8 

12- 1-8 
6- 1-8 

11-16-7 

6- 1-8 
3- 1-8 
6- 1-8 






12- 1-8 
























Hospital. 






















1- 1-8 

Chauffeur 




2- 7-8 


/ M. S. E. 
\ 8- 1-8 


/To O.T.C. 
\ 10- 1-8 


Vandal, Josephat D., 67 Irving St., Fall River, Mass. , . 
Van Zandt, Loomis 241 W 24th St. N Y C 


4-1-9 








Vernon, Wilfred, 240 Straight St., Paterson, N. J 

Vernooy, Cornelius, 342 Suydan St., New Brunswick, N. J. 

Wade, Frank E., 204 The Manchester, 1246 M. St. N. W., 
Washington, D. C 


4- 1-9 
9- 1-8 






Gas. 11-1-8 




2- 1-8 

11-16-7 
6- 1-8 








2- 1-8 
4- 1-9 


Gas.10-19-8 




Wagner, George P., 1629 E. 9th St., Brooklyn, N. Y 




1- 1-8 











page one hundred -fifteen 






SERVICE 



yasv: 



RECORD 



V 

v 


$8 





NAME AND ADDRESS 



Entered 
Company 



Pvt. 
First 
Class 



Corporal 



Sergeant 



Sergeant 
First 
Class 



Casualties 



Returned 

to 
Company 



Walker, Lawrence G., 168 Allen St., Lockport, N. Y.. . . 

Walker, Robert L., Maud, Okla 

Watters, Lewis, 1360 Chapel Rd., Dayton, Ohio 

Warren, Richard P., 210 5th St., Jersey City, N. J 

Watt, Alfred P., 1507 Corby St., Omaha, Nebr 

Watzke, Karl H., Black Earth, Wis 

Weaver, George St. Clair, Whitney, Idaho 

Webb, Stephen J., Ill S. Columbus St., Aberdeen, Miss.. 
Whalen, John, Route No. 3, Irwin, Pa 

Willette, Frank, 525 7th Ave., Minneapolis, Minn 

Willey, Herbert G., 11 Woodford St., Dorchester, Mass. 

Wilkinson, Carlie, Glasgow, 111 

Wiltse, Ralph A., 66 Gregory Ave., Mt. Kisco, N. Y 

Wolf, Henry, 440 Humboldt Parkway, Buffalo, N. Y 

Wolfe, Frederick A., 61 Gaston St., W. Orange, N. J 

Womack, Lee F., Havana, Fla 

Woodruff, Ralph J., Green City, Mo 

World, Thomas M., Salt Lake City, Utah 

Wyand, Harrington B., South St. Avon, Mass 

Young, Albert A., 25 Mason St., Rochester, N. Y 

Young, Victor H., 1053 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. . . 

Zahniser, Orie, 232 Plummer Ave., Hammond, Ind 



12- 9-7 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 

10-20-8 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
10-22-8 
2-24-8 

2-24-8 

2-24-8 
5-19-8 
5-23-8 

5- 6-8 

12- 8-7 

2-24-8 
2-24-8 
2-24-8 
1-10-8 



5-10-8 
2-23-8 

2-24-8 



6- 1-8 
6- 1-8 

To Depot 



Gas.10-17-8 



12-22-8 



Brigade. 



5-14-1 
6-1-8 



5- 1-8 

To Depot 

7- 1-8 

2- 1-9 



/Hospital. 
1 9-11-8 



Brigade. 
12- 1-8 



To Depot 
8- 1-8 



Brigade. 

12- 1-8 

9- 1-8 



5-10-8 



/Wounded 
1 9-20-8 
/Wounded 
I 10-21-8 



7- 1-8 

1- 1-8 
To Depot 

6- 1-8 
To Depot 



Wounded 
10-24-8 



6- 1-8 

Brigade. 

4- 1-9 

Brigade. 



12-1-8 
5-10-8 



4- 1-9 



Killed. 
9-19-8 



As Corpo 
5- 1-8 

3- 1-8 



ral. To Ph 
6- 1-8 

6- 1-8 



5-10-8 
10-1-8 



otographic 
4- 1-9 

12- 1-8 



To Co. B. 
School, Par 



10-14-8 



1-10-9 



/To Co. C. 
\ 4- 1-9 



4- 1-9 



REPLACEMENTS 



REPLACEMENTS 

Granquist, T. D., 304 Central Ave., Duluth, Minn 

Gregg, Floyd W., 215 S. Pleasant Ave., Lodi, Cal 

Hartzell, Leo A., 909 W. Main St., Kalamazoo, Mich. 

Hasty, Ford E., Parshall, Col 

Heinen, W. M., 923 Walnut St., Waterloo, Iowa 

Hutchans, E. M., McMinnville, Ore 

Kahn, Arthur, 9 E. 97th St., New York City 

Kleinman, R. S., 535 Ogden St., Ottumwa, Iowa 



Entered Company 



Private First Class 



2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 


As Private First Class 

As Private First Class 

As Sergeant 


2-15-9 
2-10-9 


4- 1-9 


2-13-9 
2-10-9 


As Private First Class 
4- 1-9 



Page one hundred sixteen 



®B* 





^SERVICE 



7 jfg \" 



RECORD 



M 

V 




®^^ 



REPLACEMENTS 



Lindquist, A. L., Tavlor, Texas 

McClung, J. E., 130*3 Oklahoma St., Elkhart, Kans 

McMillan, Geo., Alpena, S. D 

Murray, E. W., 539 W. Main St., Ottumwa, Iowa 

Patton, P. L., West Texas 

Richardson, R. M., Jr., 1736 Mapleton Ave., Boulder, Colo. 

Terhell, A. P., Milroy, Minn 

Thompson, H. E., 1017 E. Brill St., Phenix, Ariz 



Entered Company 



2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 
2-10-9 



Private First Class 



4- 1-9 
4- 1-9 

As Private First Class 
4- 1-9 
4- 1-9 



4- 1-9 




base one hundred seventeen 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process | 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: j,.™ 2001 

PreservationTechnologies I 



